Al-Azhar Denounces Bomb Blast at Jakarta Mosque
On Friday, a bomb exploded at a mosque inside of the State High School 72 of Jakarta in Kelapa Gading, injuring 54 people.
The incident is currently being investigated by security forces as a possible act of terrorism.
In a statement, Al-Azhar condemned the attack and stressed that targeting innocent and peace-loving people in mosques while they were engaged in their religious rituals is a crime against humanity and a clear attack on moral values that were created to save human lives and protect societies from chaos and destruction.
It is evidence that the perpetrators of this crime are devoid of all religious teachings and all human and moral values, the statement read.
Expressing its full solidarity with the government and people of Indonesia, Al-Azhar prayed to God Almighty to grant the injured a speedy recovery and to protect the people of this country and other Islamic countries from any harm or misfortune.
Separately, Al-Azhar’s Counter-Extremism Monitoring Center said it is following with concern the tragic incident that occurred in Jakarta on Friday.
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The center expressed its deepest sympathy and condolences to the Republic of Indonesia, its authorities and its people, following the bombing inside the Kelapa Gading Educational Complex Mosque during Friday prayers.
It stressed that such acts, regardless of the motives or nature of their perpetrators, are completely incompatible with all religious teachings of tolerance and human principles.
While images released from the mosque do not show any significant structural damage, Indonesian security forces are continuing their intensive investigations to uncover the circumstances and causes of the explosion.
Initial reports indicate that the suspect is a 17-year-old student who is currently undergoing surgery, and the motive behind the attack is still being investigated.
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