Paris rally part of one fight against terrorism — King

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday said that the Paris anti-terror rally he took part in the day before signalled the international community’s unity in the face of terrorism, which is targeting other parts of world, especially the Islamic world.

He made the remarks during a meeting with German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen and accompanying delegation, during which the two sides discussed international and regional issues, with focus on the anti-terrorism fight, according to a Royal Court statement.

Commenting on the Paris march, in which Her Majesty Queen Rania took part, along with more than 40 world leaders, King Abdullah said: “Our presence in Paris was very, very important because this is a united fight against terrorism and extremism.”

“ … We stood with our French colleagues because this is a stand against violence and extremism. None of us can condone the violence and terror that we have not only witnessed in France, but recently in Canada and Australia… It was also a message to stand by the many millions of French Muslims that the overwhelming majority [of whom] also stands against the violence that was perpetrated in France,” His Majesty said, as quoted in the statement.

“I think this is very, very important for all of us to come and stand together and it’s not only what we’re seeing in France; I think if you keep in mind the 140 children that were killed in Pakistan, the over 2,000 innocents that were killed in Nigeria and thousands of Muslims that are killed in Iraq and Syria everyday… this is something that binds us all together.” 

For her part, the German minister underlined the significance of the Paris march and the message it sent to terrorists around the world, voicing her country’s support to the Kingdom, which she said serves as link between the Western and Muslim world.

She expressed Germany’s keenness to support Jordan in dealing with the influx of Syrian refugees. 

The meeting was attended by HRH Prince Feisal along with several senior officials.