Al-Azhar, UN Slams Bombing of Saudi Shia Mosque on Friday

Egypt’s highest Islamic authority, al-Azhar and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), have condemned a terrorist attack on a Shia mosque in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province.

On Friday, four people were killed and 18 others sustained injuries when a bomber attacked the Imam Reza Mosque in the town of Mahasen in the Saudi Shia-populated region of al-Ahsa.

In a statement released following the incident, the UNSC denounced “in the strongest terms” the assault, calling for the “perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors” of such acts of terror to be brought to justice.

“They (UNSC members) stressed that those responsible for these killings should be held accountable, and urged all states, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with the Saudi authorities in this regard,” the statement read.

The 15-member council also expressed its deep sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims of the incident, emphasizing that “any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed.”

Furthermore, al-Azhar condemned Friday’s attack, saying it breached the sanctity of the houses of worship.

There was no early claim of responsibility for the assault but it resembled previous assaults by the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group.

Friday’s attack is the latest in a series of bombings in Saudi Arabia, many targeting members of the country’s Shia minority.

Towns and cities in the Shia-dominated Eastern Province have been the site of peaceful protests since February 2011. Demonstrators have taken to the streets to express their outrage at Riyadh’s oppressive policies against the country’s Shia minority.