How did Middle East officials respond to the #CharlieHebdo attack?
Below is a non-exhaustive list of excerpts of statements by Middle East governments and other official organizations in response to the #CharlieHebdo attack on January 7, 2015. Links are provided to the full statements.The list was compiled by Jason Stern (@IbnLarry) with significant help from Saad Abdeine (@SaadAbedine).
It should be noted that the countries below have a combined total of at least 72 journalists in jail, according to a census conducted by the Committee to Protect Journalists in December 2014.
Al-Azhar
The attack is "criminal" and "Islam rejects any acts of violence" (Akhbarak)
Arab League
"Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi strongly condemns the terrorist attack on Charlie Hebdo newspaper in Paris” (Al-Arabiya)
Gulf Cooperation Council
Secretary General Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani: “the criminal and cowardly terrorist act [...] contravenes tolerant Islamic teachings, lofty ethical and human values” (BNA)
Organization of Islamic Cooperation
Spokesperson for Islamophobia Observatory of the OIC General Secretariat condemned the terror attack and “reiterated OIC’s unwavering and principled position, which condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, asserting that violence and radicalism were, indeed, the biggest enemies of Islam and went against all its fundamental principles and values.” (OIC)
Algeria
President Bouteflika: "I have learnt with consternation of the terrorist attack on the office of Charlie Hebdo newspaper, which resulted in the loss of many lives” (APS)
Bahrain
“While it presents its sincere condolences to the families of the victims in this sad incident and its wishes for speedy recovery to the injured, the Kingdom of Bahrain affirms the important role of the responsible press that respects all religions, accepts religious diversity and rejects all forms of extremism” (BNA)
Egypt
Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry "stands with the government and people of France during these tough times, adding that efforts should be coordinated to combat terrorism" (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
Iran
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham: “Such behaviors are the continuation of the wave of extremism as well as physical and intellectual violence that has been spreading unprecedentedly across the world throughout the past decade” (Press TV)
Israel
Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman: "The world must not allow terrorists to intimidate the free world and the West is obligated to stand united and determined against this threat." (Times of Israel)
Jordan
“State Minister for Media Affairs and Communications Mohammad Momani said the attack on the headquarters of the French newspaper, is an aggression against France and the noble principles and values.” (Petra)
Kuwait
An official from the Foreign Ministry condemned the “despicable, heinous and criminal act [that] runs counter to the true values of noble Islam” (KUNA)
Lebanon
Prime Minister Tammam Salam condemned the "unacceptable and unjustifiable terrorist act" (Daily Star)
Libya
The interim government condemned the attack and said "we should all work hard to confront terrorism." (Arab Today)
Mauritania
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation condemns the terror attack and pledges cooperation with France in confronting terrorism and violence (SPA)
Morocco
“The Kingdom of Morocco strongly condemned the terrorist attack that targeted this Wednesday the Charlie Hebdo’s editorial office, which claimed the lives of innocent people.” (Foreign Ministry)
Palestinian Authority
President Mahmoud Abbas said that Palestine "strongly condemned and deplored the heinous crime that is in contradiction of religion and morality." (Ma'an)
Saudi Arabia
An “official source” says “condemning this cowardly terrorist attack which is incompatible with Islam religion and disapproval by other religions and faiths, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia extends its condolences to the families of victims, Government and people of friendly France, wishing speed recovery for injured.” (SPA)
Qatar
Foreign Ministry: “such acts against defenseless civilians contradict with all moral principles and human values” (Qatar Foreign Ministry)
Syria
Source in Foreign and Expatriates Ministry said “Syria has repeatedly warned of the dangers of supporting terrorism, especially that targeted Syria and the region, and warned that this terrorism will fall back on its supporters as events and threats, and that (terrorism) affected more than a European city confirms deficiency of the European policies and its responsibility for the bloodshed in Syria” (SANA)
Tunisia
Prime Ministry condemned “cowardly” terrorist attack and called for further cooperation to face the phenomenon of terrorism (TAP)
Turkey
Turkey Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in phone call to French Foreign Minister Fabius: “We were shocked like the rest of the world, our sincere condolences.” (AA)
United Arab Emirates
Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “such appalling criminal acts require cooperation and solidarity at all levels to eradicate this menace which seeks to spread destruction, chaos and to destabilise security and stability” (UAE Foreign Ministry)
Yemen
Ministry of Foreign Affairs “denounced on Wednesday the terror attack” and “demanded the international community to stand as one in front of terrorism challenges facing all countries” (SABA)
Note the list was updated to include statements from Israel and the Palestinian Authority.