RNA – Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem-Shirazi, an Iranian source of emulation, has issued a statement condemning the Daesh-perpetrated terrorist attacks on two Coptic Christian churches in Egypt.
On Palm Sunday (April 9), an explosive device was detonated inside St. George’s Church in the Nile Delta city of Tanta, north of the capital Cairo, which killed 28 people.
The second bombing struck outside Saint Mark’s Church in Alexandria, the seat of the Coptic papacy, killing 17 people after a terrorist bomber was prevented from entering the building.
Later on Sunday, the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group released a statement through Amaq News Agency, which is affiliated with the terrorist outfit, claiming responsibility for both church bombings in the Arab country.
The text of the statement is as follows:
In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful
The news of the brutal attacks perpetrated by Daesh terrorists on two churches in Egypt deeply saddened our hearts.
Unfortunately, the anti-religion Takfiri terrorists carry out their vicious plots and bloodshed in different parts of the world on a daily basis only to give Islam a bad name and to increase Islamophobia.
One day, they attack the pedestrians in Sweden by a truck, the other day they slaughter the innocent people in a subway station in Russia and now they began initiating attacks on the places of worship of innocent Christians in different Egyptian cities.
I have repeatedly said that in order for us to get rid of this wave of violence and terror, all nations and world leaders must step forward and join their resolve to denounce such Takfiri groups.
Unfortunately, we don’t see such strong resolve in the present world to put an end to these terrorist attacks.
I hereby voice my solidarity with the great nation of Egypt and pray to God almighty to console the hearts of the victims’ families in this incident and to heal the wounded.
Naser Makarem-Shirazi
April 12, 2017
112/930/322