Asean condemns attack on Egypt churches

President Rodrigo Duterte addresses business leaders at the 13th ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in Vientiane, Laos on September 6, 2016. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) condemned on Tuesday the recent attacks on two churches in Egypt, which left more than 40 people dead.

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“The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) strongly condemns the bombings of two Coptic churches in Egypt on 09 April 2017 which claimed many innocent lives and wounded many others,” an Asean foreign ministers’ statement read.

Last April 9, the Coptic churches in Tanta and Alexandria in Egypt were bombed by terrorists. The attack was claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

The regional group expressed “deep sympathies and condolences to the Government and peoples of the Arab Republic of Egypt, especially to the families of the victims of the terror attacks.”

It said terrorism should not be linked to beliefs of religions and that “terrorism and violence in all its forms and manifestations, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomever, against whomsoever committed are criminal and unjustifiable.”

“In view of the terror attacks, ASEAN stresses the urgency of further strengthening regional and international cooperation in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism,” it said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier condemned the bombings, which injured hundreds of people. CBB/rga