Egypt, UAE denounce Guardian story about Sinai mosque attack

CAIRO – 27 November 2017: UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Anwar Gargash denounced on Sunday the article published by The Guardian newspaper on the brutal terrorist attack on Al-Rawadh Mosque on Friday.

Gargash added that Simon Tisdall’s article in the Guardian about the massacre the Sinai mosque terror attack is a bad example of the negative framing of some Western writers which western pens suffer. He real problem is extremism and terrorism and they have to realize that.

“Simon Tisdall’s piece on the Sinai mosque terror attack in the Guardian is completely unacceptable. More appropriate to sympathize with a suffering population not to resort to Egypt bashing journalism,” Gargash stated on his official account on Facebook.

Simon Tisdall’s piece on the Sinai mosque terror attack in the Guardian is completely unacceptable. More appropriate to sympathize with a suffering population not to resort to Egypt bashing journalism.

— د. أنور قرقاش (@AnwarGargash) ٢٦ نوفمبر، ٢٠١٧

In the same context, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ spokesman, Ahmed Abu Zeid, strongly denounced the same article expressing his “disappointment” toward the article, where the author criticized Egypt’s policy of handling terrorism.

Tisdall claimed that President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi’s “iron fist” repudiation and response to the Al-Rawadh Mosque’s attack on Friday is a failed tactic.

In a tweet, Abu Zeid expressed his “outrage”, stating; “Shocked and outraged to read Guardian article by Simon Tisdall, stark example of double standards and glorification of terrorism. Security Council res. 2354 condemns in the strongest terms the repudiating attempts at the justification or glorification of terrorist acts. #SinaiAttack”

Shocked & outraged to read @guardian article by Simon Tisdall. Stark example of double standards & glorification of terrorism. Security Council res. 2354 condemns in the strongest terms the repudiating attempts at the justification or glorification of terrorist acts. #SinaiAttack

— Egypt MFA Spokesman (@MfaEgypt) ٢٦ نوفمبر، ٢٠١٧

Friday bomb and gun assault on Al-Rawdah Mosque in north Sinai killed at least 305 people and injured 128 others.

A group of terrorists stormed the mosque in west Arish City in four off-road vehicles and opened fire on worshipers during Friday prayers after a bomb was detonated, according to eyewitnesses.

Eyewitnesses further added that terrorists set fire in nearby cars and blocked the road in Al-Rawdah Village.

Reported by state media, the death and injury toll kept rising on Friday afternoon as more details got clarified.

Security forces and medical personnel immediately moved to the scene and halted traffic on Arish-Qantara Road, which leads to the damaged mosque, to scout the area and provide medical assistance to the injured.

President Sisi held an urgent meeting following the attack to stand on its latest developments and issue directives to contain the situation.

President Sisi, in a TV statement, strongly condemned the abhorrent terrorist attack and mourned the victims while extending his condolences to their families.