The most prestigious Sunni religious institution in the world, Al-Azhar, released a statement on Monday stressing that Islam categorically rejects terrifying innocent people or shedding their blood, calling for confronting terrorist groups that carry out attacks on the innocent.

The religious institute offered heartfelt condolences to the victims' families and the Congolese people and government, wishing the wounded speedy recovery.

Nineteen civilians were burned and hacked to death on Friday by a rebel group in the eastern DRC.