Iran condemns killing of Shias in Egypt

TEHRAN,June 26(MNA) – In a statement issued on Monday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned the killing of four Shia Egyptians near Cairo, saying that such an act of violence was in contradiction of the principles of Islam. The four worshippers had gathered on Sunday at the home of a prominent Shia on the outskirts of Cairo to mark a religious festival when the house was attacked by a hostile crowd, which accused them of heresy and beat them to death, according to Reuters. “The Islamic Republic of Iran condemns any act of extremism and violence which runs counter to Islam, the Holy Quran, and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (S) (traditions of Islam based on the words and acts of the Prophet), and is certain that the sensible and revolutionary Egyptian people… will vigilantly deal with the vicious plot to cause division among sects of Islam,” read the Foreign Ministry statement. One hundred and ninety Iranian lawmakers also issued a statement on Tuesday denouncing the killing of Shias in Egypt as a heinous act of violence. The MPs also called on the Egyptian government to seriously investigate the incident and punish the criminals behind the act of savagery.