Muslim leaders express solidarity with the UK after Manchester attack

In the wake of a deadly terrorist attack on concert goers in Manchester, United Kingdom, Muslim leaders from around the world have condemned the violence and offered their condolences.

The attack, which occurred just after a performance by American singer Ariana Grande, left 22 dead and 59 injured.

Although the identity of the attacker and his motivations have not yet been revealed, many have already begun speculating that the suicide attacker – who died in the blast – was connected to or inspired by a group such as the so-called Islamic State (or Daesh). The extremist group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and supporters of Daesh have posted on social media to express happiness over the violence and slaughter.

Muslim leaders and ordinary Muslims once again want the world to know that they condemn such violent acts wholly and without question. Here are some of the messages leaders of Muslim countries have been sharing since the news of the attack broke. 

An official source from Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Al Arabiya that the kingdom has expressed its "strong condemnation of the bomb attack in Manchester."

The source also emphasized Saudi Arabia's "solidarity with the United Kingdom, underscoring the importance of joining international efforts to eradicate the scourge of terrorism and extremism" and expressed the kingdom's "condolences to the families of the victims, the government and the people of the United Kingdom."

​"The United Arab Emirates has condemned the terrorist attack that took place outside the Manchester Arena in northern England late on Monday," a press release on the UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs website says.

"The ministry stressed the UAE's support for the British Government in the face of terrorism, and expressed its sincere condolences and solace to the British Government, people, and families of the victims of the criminal incident. The ministry also wished for a quick recovery for the injured."

Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Qatar's Foreign Minister, tweeted his "sincere condolences" to the victims of the attack and their families.

In an official statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs "reiterated Qatar's firm stance on rejecting violence and terrorism regardless of its source and whatever its motives and reasons. The statement also stressed Qatar's rejection of all criminal attacks that terrorize the innocent people and contradict with humanitarian values and principles," according to the Qatar News Agency.

The Prime Minister of Lebanon, Saad Hariri tweeted his "solidarity with the people of Britain" from his official Twitter account.

According to media reports, Hariri also called the British Ambassador to Lebanon Hugo Shorter to offer Lebanon's condolences and support in the fight against terrorism.

"Lebanon stands in the front line to combat terrorism," Hariri told Shorter, according to The Daily Star. 

A spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry expressed his country's complete condemnation of the attack, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency.

Bahram Qasemi offered Iran's condolences and stressed that terrorism, regardless of where it happens, shares the same dangerous root.

"It is advisable that all the countries that have been victims of the extremist ideology and Takfiri terrorism get united and confront it in a serious, sincere and purposeful manner," he said.

The Royal Hashemite Court of Jordan also shared King Abdullah II's condemnation of the attack and his condolences via an official Twitter account.

"The execution of such heinous terrorist attack, few days after holding an anti-terror summit in Saudi, underlined the importance that the international community should move immediately to put an effective mechanism and to take strict measures to uproot terrorism," Egypt's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.