Update, Nov. 14: In a live address on Saturday morning in France, President Francois Hollande said the Islamic State was responsible for the attacks. ISIL claimed responsibility for the attacks in a statement released on social media, though its lack of specific background information about the attackers suggests the group may not have directly orchestrated them.
The attacks in Paris that have killed more than 100 people have sparked a cycle of blame and outrage that has become depressingly familiar.
Not much is known about the terrorists at this point, except for the fact that the ones directly involved are all dead. But early reports that the terrorists were speaking about France’s presence in Syria, that one yelled “Allahu Akbar” before opening fire in a crowded concert hall, and ISIL supporters use of the hashtag #باريس_تشتعل (Paris burns) to spread the news led many to conclude the attackers were Muslim.
The attacks have started a new round of condemnation of Islam itself from long-time right-wing critics.
Muslims around the world, from religious leaders and politicians to ordinary people, meanwhile, are condemning the attacks.
In an official statement, Iranian president Hassan Rouhani called the attacks a “crime against humanity.”
In the name of the Iranian people, who have themselves been victims of terrorism, I strongly condemn these crimes against humanity and offer my condolences to the grieving French people and government.
Indonesian president Joko Widodo condemned the “violence that took place in Paris,” and called for more international cooperation to fight terrorism.
Leaders of Arab states called the attacks immoral and inhumane. Qatar’s foreign minister Khaled al-Attiyah denounced the “heinous attacks,” adding, “these acts, which target stability and security in France are against all human and moral values.” Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Sabah called the attacks “criminal acts of terrorism which run counter to all teachings of holy faith and humanitarian values.” The Saudi foreign ministry called for global cooperation to “root out this dangerous and destructive plague.”
Many took to social media, including this British imam:
and British author:
A young Moroccan man used Youtube to express his “deepest condolences” to the victims of the Parisian attacks, and call the terrorists unIslamic:
“They don’t represent Islam,” he said. “These so-called jihadists and fundamentalists only represent themselves.” The video is just a few hours old but hundreds of people have already commented on it, many in the form of anti-Islamic rants.
From a professor of Islamic studies in North America:
From Egypt:
And from Kenya:
After the attacks on the Charlie Hebdo offices in Paris earlier this year, dozens of mosques in France were attacked, and Muslim-owned businesses threatened. Today’s terror attack may spawn another wave of anti-Muslim violence.