Al-Azhar Al-Sharif and its Grand Imam Dr. Ahmed al-Tayeb strongly condemns the French airstrike on Fatima al-Zahra primary school in al-Zuhour neighborhood, east of the Iraqi City of Mosul, Nineveh, killing 28 children and injuring 25 others, from among the pupils.
Al-Azhar asserts that killing innocent children, will in no way defeat terrorism. In fact, such reactions will broaden and intensify terrorism. Al-Azhar, therefore, again warns that wrong handling, random reactions and the inaccuracy in targeting real criminals will lead to more innocent victims from among civilians. Actually, this is another form of terrorism that is no less cruel than ISIS’; innocent victims are the same in both cases.
Therefore, Al-Azhar calls the French authorities to urgently investigate the accident, identify its causes, held accountable those responsible and reveal facts to the public opinion.
In the meanwhile, Al-Azhar calls for a unified global movement that works according to a clear vision to overcome extremist groups and free the world of their evils, but at the same time be so cautious when targeting criminals and attacking these vicious terrorist groups.