Egypt's Al-Azhar on Sunday (October 28th) condemned an attack that targeted a US synagogue in the city of Pittsburg, killing 11 people, saying that any attack against a human or a place of worship is terrorism, Ahram Online reported.
Whoever commits such acts "should be punished regardless of his motives or religious and ideological background, and regardless of the victims' ideologies or religion or beliefs", Al-Azhar said in a statement.
Egypt's oldest and most influential Islamic institution stressed its rejection of any racist discourse or acts, and stressed the need to adopt more moderate discourse and to support the values of peaceful co-existence between the followers of the different religions.
On Saturday, 11 people were killed and six were injured by a gunman in a synagogue during a religious service in Pittsburgh, in what was described as the deadliest attack against the Jewish community in US history.
The suspected gunman, 46-year-old Robert Bowers, is in custody and is being investigated by the US authorities.
Egypt's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned the attack.
"Egypt completely condemns the attack and rejects all shapes of terrorism, violence and radicalism including targeting places of worship," foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Hafez said.
Jordan’s government was among those who offered condolences to the US government, people and families of the victims, voicing the kingdom’s firm condemnation of hate and terrorist crimes.
