UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemns ISIL’s acts of atrocity

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday night strongly condemned the atrocities and terrorist acts carried out by ISIL in Iraq and Syria.

Ahead of Thursday’s Nato summit in Wales, the ministry called on the international community to adopt a clear strategy for countering terrorist and extremist groups.

“Our world is witnessing many serious challenges and amongst the greatest is terrorism,” the ministry said. “The UAE expresses its deepest concerns and strongest condemnation of terror acts and criminal practices of violent extremists.

“The UAE condemns the atrocities of the so-called ISIL, which aims to kill, terrorise and displace civilians, ransack property, and demolish historic and religious sites.”

On Tuesday a video posted online showed the beheading of US journalist Steven Sotloff, 31, by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant.

ISIL called the savage execution retribution for US airstrikes in Iraq.

World leaders including US president Barack Obama and British leader David Cameron will address 4,000 delegates over two days in Cardiff. The ministry said a clear strategy was needed.

“This strategy should entail a clear categorisation all of these groups on the basis of their ideology and their violent actions. Moreover, it is important that this strategy does not stop with Iraq and Syria, but seeks to tackle the phenomenon of terrorism wherever it arises.

“Only through such a unified effort will it be possible to combat terrorist groups.”

The Ambassador to the US, Yousef Al Otaiba, said the UAE “is ready to join the international community in an urgent, coordinated and sustained effort to confront a threat that will, if unchecked, have global ramifications for decades to come”.

The ministry added the country “opposes the insidious ideologies these terrorist groups are based upon, and which do not reflect the peaceful teachings of Islam”.