The
September 11 attacks were condemned by world leaders and other political and religious representatives and the international media, as well as numerous
memorials and services all over the world. The attacks were widely condemned by the governments of the world, including those traditionally considered hostile to the United States, such as Cuba, Iran, Libya, and North Korea. However, in a few cases celebrations of the attacks were also reported,[not verified in body] and some groups and individuals[who?] accused the United States in effect of bringing the attacks on itself. These reports have been uncorroborated[1] and many have been linked to unsubstantiated conspiracy theories.[2]
Many countries introduced anti-terrorism legislation[3] and froze the bank accounts[4] of businesses and individuals they suspected of having connections with
al-Qaeda and its leader
Osama bin Laden, the perpetrators of the attacks.
In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, the
Bush administration declared a
war on terrorism, with the stated goals of bringing Osama bin Laden and
al-Qaeda to justice and preventing the emergence of other terrorist networks. These goals were to be accomplished by means including economic and military sanctions against states perceived as harboring terrorists and increasing global surveillance and intelligence sharing. Within hours after the September 11 attacks, Defense Secretary Rumsfeld speculated on
possible involvement by Saddam Hussein and ordered his aides to make plans for striking Iraq;[5] although unfounded, the association contributed to public acceptance for the
2003 invasion of Iraq. The second-biggest operation of the US Global War on Terrorism outside of the United States, and the largest directly connected to terrorism, was the overthrow of the
Taliban rule from Afghanistan, by a US-led coalition.
American Muslims utterly condemn the vicious and cowardly acts of terrorism against innocent civilians. We join with all Americans in calling for the swift apprehension and punishment of the perpetrators. No political cause could ever be assisted by such immoral acts.
Christian Americans
President
George W. Bush, a devout Christian, quoted
Psalm 23 in his Address to the Nation[7] immediately following the attacks:
America and our friends and allies join with all those who want peace and security in the world, and we stand together to win the war against terrorism. Tonight, I ask for your prayers for all those who grieve, for the children whose worlds have been shattered, for all whose sense of safety and security has been threatened. And I pray they will be comforted by a power greater than any of us, spoken through the ages in Psalm 23: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me."
Bush also called for solidarity with Muslims and Islam following attacks on Arab-Americans and Muslims, stating "The face of terror is not the true faith of Islam. That's not what Islam is all about. Islam is peace. These terrorists don't represent peace. They represent evil and war."[8]
Reverend Billy Graham gave a sermon at the
Washington National Cathedral for a memorial service to the victims of the terrorist attacks, declaring the need for spiritual renewal, and imploring Americans to bond together through struggle and strengthen their faith, and not to fragment and disintegrate as a people and nation.[9]
Christian vigils, prayer services, and memorials occurred in many states across the
United States.[10]
Five days following the attacks, Reverend
Jeremiah Wright gave a sermon at the United Trinity Church of Christ in
Chicago,
Illinois, claiming that the attacks were recompense for various injustices that the
United States and Americans had perpetrated, before stating that now was a time for self-examination.[14]
Leftist reactions
According to left-wing intellectuals
Michael Walzer,
Leo Casey,
Michael Kazin, James B. Rule, and
Ann Snitow, writing in Dissent, one of the responses by the American left to the
September 11 attacks was to blame American actions, including the
Gulf War,
sanctions against Iraq, support for Saudi Arabia, and support for Israel, for provoking the September 11 attack.[15] Walzer later described the left's response to 9/11 as a "radical failure."[16]
International reactions
After the attacks many governments and organizations in the
western world and several pro-U.S. allies expressed shock and sympathy, and were supportive of burgeoning efforts to combat terrorism. Among them are:
Argentina:
Argentine PresidentFernando De La Rua expressed his "most absolute repudiation" against the terrorist attacks, and offered assistance to the United States which materialized in the form of medical and humanitarian assistance in support of the
US-led intervention in Afghanistan. Humberto Roggero, then head of the opposition
Justicialist Party, also condemned the attacks, as did other members of the government and society. The government announced three days of national mourning with all flags half mast[17][18][19]
Brazil:
Brazil PresidentFernando Henrique Cardoso expressed "horror" and condemned the terrorist attacks and sent a message to President Bush in solidarity with the victims as well as condemning all forms of terrorism. Cardoso also expressed worry for Brazilian residents and tourists of the United States as well as for the Brazilian and global economy.
Rio de Janeiro put up billboards that showed the city's famous Christ the Redeemer statue embracing the New York City Skyline.[25]
Bulgaria: People gathered in town squares to light candles and pray.[24] The government declared September 13 a national day of mourning.[26]
Belarus: President
Alexander Lukashenko offered his condolences in a personal letter to president
George W. Bush on the first anniversary of the attacks, stating that "the Belarusian nation which survived the horrors of
World War II and the
Chernobyl disaster understands very well what the citizens of the United States of America had to go through."[27]
Burma (Myanmar): The Burmese government issued a letter to the United Nations on 30 November 2002 outlining its commitment to all counter terrorism efforts. The Burmese government stated its opposition to terrorism and declared government officials would not allow the country to be used as a safehaven or a location for the planning and execution of terrorist acts.[21]
Canada: Canadian Prime Minister
Jean Chrétien proclaimed September 14 a
national day of mourning[28] and said of the attacks, "It is impossible to fully comprehend the evil that would have conjured up such a cowardly and depraved assault upon thousands of innocent people."[29]Transport Canada and
Nav Canada activated emergency protocols and commenced
Operation Yellow Ribbon in response to the first plane hitting the
World Trade Center, allowing all commercial flights entering the U.S. to land at Canadian airports and remain there. Many of those flights were directed to
Gander International Airport, where extra
RCMP personnel was deployed. The foreign travelers were housed and fed in
Gander following the attacks.
Chile: The Chilean government of
Ricardo Lagos through his foreign minister, expressed his condemnation of the attacks, in solidarity with the victims, in addition to lending their support to the United States in the fight against terrorism. In addition to convening the leaders of the Rio Group in order to take joint action in relation to terrorism and the position of the United States.[30]
China:
Paramount leaderJiang Zemin said he was "shocked" and sent his condolences to President Bush, while the
Foreign Ministry said China "opposed all manner" of terrorism.[21][31] In
Beijing, tens of thousands of people visited the U.S. Embassy, leaving flowers, cards, funeral
wreaths and hand-written notes of condolence on the sidewalk out front.
Estonia: Estonian
PresidentLennart Meri sent a letter of condolences to George W. Bush: "Estonia has stood with the United States in the past and we stand with our American friends in this hour of tragedy", Meri wrote and added that "terrorism in all forms must be fought with every means possible, and that Estonia will support the United States in bringing those responsible for the attack to justice."[34]
Finland: Buses and other public transportation came to a stop to pay tribute to the victims of the attacks.[24]
France: The French newspaper of record, Le Monde, ran a front-page headline reading "Nous sommes tous Américains" ("We are all Americans"). Following the attacks, then-French president
Jacques Chirac released a statement: "It is with great emotion that France has learned of these monstrous attacks—there is no other word—that have recently hit the United States of America. And in these appalling circumstances, the whole French people—I want to say here—is beside the American people.
France expresses its friendship and solidarity in this tragedy. Of course, I assure President George Bush of my total support. France, you know, has always condemned and unreservedly condemns terrorism, and considers that we must fight against terrorism by all means." September 14 was declared a day of national mourning with a minute of silence in honor of the victims.[35]
Germany: Chancellor
Gerhard Schröder described the attacks as "a declaration of war against the entire civilized world." Authorities urged
Frankfurt, the country's financial capital, to close all its major skyscrapers. The new Jewish museum in
Berlin canceled its public opening.[31] In Berlin 200,000 Germans marched to show their solidarity with America. Three days after the attacks, the crew of the German destroyer Lütjensmanned the rails as they approached the American destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill, displaying an American flag and a banner reading "We Stand By You".[36]
Greece: Greek Prime Minister
Costas Simitis expressed his dismay of the attacks on the United States, quoting "Greece condemns, most categorically, these horrific acts. We hope that the culprits be located and brought to justice immediately." Many Greek citizens called the U.S. embassy to offer their support and express their outrage over the attacks. Security was also ramped up at American and other European embassies in Athens. September 14 was declared a day of national mourning.[37]
Greenland: People gathered in
Nuuk, and other town squares to light candles and offer prayers.[24]
Hungary: Firefighters tied black ribbons to their trucks in honor of the victims.[24]
India: India declared high alert across most of its major cities and conveyed "deepest sympathies" to the U.S. and condemned the attacks.[38] Children in the country taped up signs that read, "This is an attack on all of us".[24]
Italy: Italian Prime Minister
Silvio Berlusconi said: "I am shocked at the terrifying, insane terrorist attack which has hit the people of a friendly nation as well as the conscience of the entire world."[42] Race car drivers preparing for the
Italian Grand Prix silenced their engines out of respect for the victims of the attacks.[24] Ferrari ran their cars with no sponsors and a black nose out of respect during the Italian Grand Prix.[43] Students and public workers observed a three minutes' silence.
Japan: Japanese Prime Minister
Junichiro Koizumi said, "This outrageous and vicious act of violence against the United States is unforgivable." Special security precautions were ordered at all United States military installations.[31]
Kenya: The
Maasai people in a Kenyan village gave 14 cows to help and support the United States after the attacks.[44]
North Korea: A spokesperson for the North Korean Foreign Ministry in Pyongyang was quoted by the state-run news agency
KCNA as saying: "The very regretful and tragic incident reminds it once again of the gravity of terrorism. As a UN member, the DPRK is opposed to all forms of terrorism and whatever support to it ... and this stance will remain unchanged."[45][46]
South Korea: South Korean President
Kim Dae-jung offered his condolences "to the people of America for their tremendous loss and the pain and the suffering that they suffer due to the terrorist attack." He also voiced his support for President Bush and the United States, and offered his full support and assistance.[47] South Korea also has strengthened its domestic legislation and institutions to combat financial support for terrorism, including the creation of a financial intelligence unit.[21] The South Korean government declared Friday September 14 to be national mourning day for those victims.[48]
Laos: The government of Laos has stated it condemns all forms of terrorism and supports the global war on terrorism. Its national bank, the
Bank of Laos, has issued orders to freeze terrorist assets and instructed banks to locate and seize such assets, though the country is still slow to ratify international conventions against terrorism.[21]
Lithuania:
Lithuanian PresidentValdas Adamkus during a visit to George W. Bush in Washington, D.C., expressed his sympathy with victims and deepest condolences to Bush and the American people. In a letter to President Bush, "The sympathies and solidarity of the Lithuanian people are with victims and their families. Lithuania strongly condemns international terrorism and hopes that the organizers of these attacks will be found and brought to justice. Mr. President, I want to assure you that Lithuania will continue to support the United States in fighting terrorists".[50]
Mexico: The Mexican government increased its security, causing enormous traffic jams at the United States border and officials said they were considering closing the entire border. President
Vicente Fox expressed "solidarity and our most profound condolences".[31]
Mongolia: Permanent Representative of Mongolia Amb. J. Enkhsaikhan condemned the attacks, calling them "Barbaric" and "Heinous", and claimed: "The world community not only strongly condemned these barbaric acts and reiterated its determination to fight all manifestations of terrorism".[51]
Netherlands:
Prime MinisterWim Kok said he was "deeply shocked" by this "indescribable catastrophe" which "goes beyond every power of imagination." He further said that "The bitter observation that this is apparently a terrorist attack obliges us to combat each form of terrorism − both nationally and internationally − with all force."[52]QueenBeatrix conveyed her condolences per telegram to president Bush.[53] The Dutch government decided to not exuberantly celebrate
Prinsjesdag, the normally festive opening of parliament that took place on 18 September, one week after the attacks. Out of piety, royal guards wore black robes instead of their traditional ceremonial uniforms and no music was played other than drums and the national anthem. The royal procession with Queen Beatrix came to stand-still in front of the American embassy in
The Hague to observe a moment of silence.[54]
In 2003, New Zealand began administering a "Pacific Security Fund" to vulnerable nations in the Pacific region aiming at securing and preventing terrorism from entering the region, there is an annual fund of
NZD$3 million that is paid by the
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and is used to provide support to Pacific Island countries.[57]
Norway: Trams and buses also halted in Norway out of respect.[24]
Philippines: Philippine President
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo sent a letter to President Bush assuring the safety of U.S. facilities in the Philippines and proclamation September 16 as a national day of prayer and solidarity against terrorism in deep sympathy with the American people and all humanity.[58] She said that "nothing can describe the shock and horror of all humanity in the face of the unimaginable acts of terror inflicted on the United States." She added that the Filipino people extends condolences to all victims of the attacks. Arroyo also ordered the Philippine consulate in New York to search and confirm Filipino casualties of the attacks.[59] The Philippines had since been offering medical assistance for coalition forces, blanket overflight clearance, and landing rights for US aircraft involved in Operation Enduring Freedom. The
Philippine Congress also passed the Anti-Money-laundering Act of 2001 on 29 September in an attempt to combat terrorist funding.[21]
Poland: Firefighters and other professional rescue workers sounded their vehicle sirens simultaneously. Many Poles also expressed their sympathy by lighting hundreds of candles in front of the U.S. embassy in
Warsaw.[24][60] The President ordered flags to be flown at half mast for three days on all government and public buildings as a sign of national mourning.[61]
Romania: Many churches and monasteries in Romania held a memorial prayer in honor of the victims.[24] The Romanian government has declared Friday 14 September a day of national mourning.[62]
Russia: President
Vladimir Putin held an emergency meeting of security officials and said he supported a tough response to these "barbaric acts".[31] He sent a telegram to President Bush reading "Dear George, such an inhuman act must not go unpunished."[23] He also informed
Condoleezza Rice by telephone that any and all pre-existing hostility between the two countries would be put aside while America dealt with the tragedy. Russian troops were put on alert in response to the attacks. Television and radio stations went silent to commemorate the dead.[24]
Singapore: Prime Minister
Goh Chok Tong condemned the attacks and pledge support to US-led anti terrorism operations.[63] Following the attacks, Singaporean government began to investigate a possible terrorist cell within its borders.[21]
South Africa: South African President,
Thabo Mbeki, halted all broadcasts and was left in solitude for the rest of the day after offering financial support to the U.S.
Spain: King
Juan Carlos sent a telegram to the president of the United States, George Bush, in which he expressed "his personal support and solidarity and that of the Spanish people with that country" for the events, and the prime minister
José María Aznar offered his support for the American people and its president, George W. Bush.[64]
Sweden: Trams and buses in Sweden came to a halt out of respect for the victims.[24]
Republic of China (Taiwan): The
President of the Republic of ChinaChen Shui-bian said the ROC would "fully support the spirit and determination of the anti-terrorist campaign, as well as any effective, substantive measures that may be adopted" and announced that it would fully abide by the 12 United Nations counter terrorism conventions, even though it is a former member of the United Nations. The country strengthened laws on money laundering and criminal-case-procedure law shortly after the attacks. It also stated that Bush's proclamation that the U.S. would do "whatever it took to help Taiwan defend herself."[21][66]
Thailand: Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra condemned the attacks and said his country would stand by the United States in the international coalition to combat terrorism. Thai government leaders also condemned the attacks and pledged cooperation on counter terrorism efforts between Thai and US agencies, committed to signing all the United Nations counter terrorism conventions.[67]
Ukraine: The Ukrainian parliament declared solidarity with the United States, and offered moral, technical and military support to the extent of their infrastructure. Parliament passed three resolutions all in favor of assisting the United States following the attacks. Congressman
Bob Schaffer expressed gratitude towards Ukraine and its stance on terrorism, saying "Ukraine's condemnation of international terrorism, its much-appreciated support in the war on terrorism, its tough newly enacted laws to combat terrorism, and its commitment to fight at the side of the United States and its allies for civil society and democracy demonstrates the role Ukraine and her people intend to play in the emerging democracy".[68]
Turkey: Turkish President
Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister
Bülent Ecevit condemned the attacks. The Turkish government then ordered all of its flags at half-mast for one day of mourning.
United Kingdom: British security forces in the country and across the world were placed on maximum alert. Prime Minister
Tony Blair pledged that Britain would stand "full square alongside the U.S." in the battle against terrorism.
Queen Elizabeth expressed "growing disbelief and total shock."[31] In London, Her Majesty the Queen personally authorised the
U.S. national anthem to be played at the
Changing of the Guard ceremony at
Buckingham Palace and traffic on
The Mall came to a halt during the tribute.[69] A Service of Remembrance was held at
St. Paul's Cathedral attended by Her Majesty the Queen, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, Prime Minister Tony Blair, senior government officials, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom
William Farish, military representatives from both the United States and British armed forces and a congregation of thousands inside and outside the cathedral.[70]
Vatican City:
Pope John Paul II dedicated his weekly address to pilgrims gathered in
St. Peter's Square to discussing the events. Referring to the attacks as "an appalling offence against peace" and "a terrible assault against human dignity", he said, "I ask God to grant the American people the strength and courage they need at this time of sorrow and trial."[71] John Paul II also fell to his knees in prayer at a service in the Vatican.
Vietnam: Vietnam's leaders sympathized with the United States and condemned terrorism in the days following the attacks but also condemned any US "overreaction retaliation" such as the US airstrikes on
Kabul, Afghanistan while supporting a resolution to the Afghanistan situation under the auspices of the United Nations. The country together with its neighbors of
Laos and Burma signed an agreement on combating international terrorism.[72]
Almost all Muslim political and religious leaders condemned the attacks. The leaders vehemently denouncing the attacks included the leaders of Egypt (
Hosni Mubarak), the
Palestinian Authority (
Yasser Arafat), Libya (
Muammar Gaddafi), Syria (
Bashar al-Assad), Iran (
Mohamed Khatami) and Pakistan (
Pervez Musharraf).[6][75] The sole exception was Iraq, when the then-president
Saddam Hussein, said of the attacks that "the American cowboys are reaping the fruit of their crimes against humanity".[76] Saddam would later offer sympathy to the Americans killed in the attacks.[77]
In 2008,
John L. Esposito and
Dalia Mogahed published the findings of a six-year effort to poll and interview tens of thousands of Muslims in more than 35 countries with Muslim majorities or substantial minorities about reactions to the September 11 attacks: 23.1 percent of respondents said the attacks were in some way justified, and 7 percent viewed them as "completely justified."[78] According to
Pew Research, the majority of Muslims do not believe the official 9/11 story.[79]
Afghanistan: Afghanistan leaders condemned the attacks, but vehemently rejected suggestions that
Osama bin Laden, who had been given asylum in Afghanistan, could be behind them.[80]
Azerbaijan: Azerbaijanis gathered in town squares to light candles, pray and offered good wishes.
Bangladesh: People gathered in mosques in prayer, and clerics condemned the attacks.[24]
Egypt: Egyptian President
Hosni Mubarak called a
cabinet meeting after the attacks.[81] Mubarak said that "Egypt firmly and strongly condemns such attacks on civilians and soldiers that led to the deaths of a large number of innocent victims."[82] His
Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Amr Moussa, was more measured, calling the attacks "regrettable."[83]
Indonesia: President
Megawati Sukarnoputri expressed public support for a global war on terrorism and promised to implement United Nations counter-terrorism resolutions; however, the Indonesian government opposed unilateral US military action in Afghanistan, and thus, took limited action in support of international anti-terrorism efforts.[21] In addition, many Indonesians gathered on beaches to pray for the victims of the attacks.[24]
Iran: Iranian president
Mohammad Khatami[84][85][86][87] and Supreme Leader
Ali Khamenei condemned and denounced the attacks and the terrorists who carried them out. Iranians who gathered for a soccer match in
Tehran two days after the 9/11 attacks observed a moment of silence. There was also a candlelight vigil. Huge crowds attended candlelit vigils in Iran, and 60,000 spectators observed a minute's silence at Tehran's soccer stadium.[88][89] On Tuesday, September 25, in 2001, Khatami meeting British Foreign Secretary,
Jack Straw, said: "Iran fully understands the feelings of the Americans about the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington on September 11." He said although the American administrations had been at best indifferent about terrorist operations in Iran (since 1979), the Iranians instead felt differently and had expressed their sympathetic feelings with bereaved Americans in the tragic incidents in the two cities." He also stated that "Nations should not be punished in place of terrorists."[90] According to
Radio Farda's website, in 2011, on the anniversary of the attacks,
United States Department of State, published a post at its blog, in which the Department thanked Iranian people for their sympathy and stated that they would never forget Iranian people's kindness on those harsh days. This piece of news at Radio Farda's website also states that after the attacks' news was released, some Iranian citizens gathered in front of the Embassy of Switzerland in Tehran, which serves as the protecting power of the United States in Iran, to express their sympathy and some of them lit candles as a symbol of mourning.[91]
Iraq: at first justified the attacks. "The American cowboys are reaping the fruit of their crimes against humanity," said an official Iraqi statement. The official al-Iraq newspaper called the event "a lesson for all tyrants, oppressors and criminals."[42] Later in October 2001, president
Saddam Hussein personally replied to an
email sent to him by an American citizen by offering his condolences and sympathy for the victims killed in the attacks.[92]
Israel: The day after the 9/11 attacks,
Israeli Prime MinisterAriel Sharon condemned the attacks and urged the world to fight terrorism and declared a national day of mourning in solidarity with the United States.[31] He also offered to send a highly specialized military emergency team to America that could help rescue victims who were still stuck in the demolished buildings, as well as provide other support. Israeli officials said that 100 to 200 people were already loaded in a plane waiting on a Tel Aviv runway, ready to fly to the U.S. as soon as America gave permission.[93] To commemorate and honor the victims of terror attacks, the
9/11 Living Memorial Plaza, a
Cenotaph designed by
Eliezer Weishoff, was built in
Ramot, Jerusalem. The 9/11 Living Memorial Plaza is the only 9/11 Memorial outside of the United States that includes the names of all 2,997 victims.[94]
Jordan: King Abdullah II condemned the 9/11 attacks. Many Jordanians signed letters of sympathy and condolences.
Kazakhstan: The Kazakhstani government offered the use of its airspace for relief and offered its condolences.[24]
Kuwait: The Kuwaiti government condemned and denounced the 9/11 attacks. Some Kuwaitis lined up at local Red Crescent hospitals to donate blood. The Embassy published a statement in The New York Times.[95]
Kyrgyzstan: The government of Kyrgyzstan offered its condolences, as well as the use of its airspace.
Lebanon: Lebanese President
Émile Lahoud and prime minister
Rafic Hariri both condemned the 9/11 attacks. Lebanese generals signed and sent letters of sympathy.
Libya:
Muammar Gaddafi called the attacks "horrifying." He called on Muslim aid groups to join international assistance efforts to the US, "regardless of political considerations or differences between America and the peoples of the world."[42]
Malaysia: Prime Minister
Mahathir Mohamad immediately condemned the attacks and promised to fight terrorism within Malaysia.[96] Since the attacks, Malaysia together with its neighbor of
Singapore began to cooperate with the United States through exchange of intelligence information and coordinating security measures against possible terrorist attacks and pledged full support for the US-led effort to combat terrorism.[21][63]
Pakistan: Pakistani president
Pervez Musharraf condemned the attacks. Some Islamic clerics in a few Pakistani mosques also condemned the attacks.[24] However, a 2004 Pew poll found that 65% of Pakistanis viewed Osama bin Laden favorably.[98]
Saudi Arabia: The Saudi Arabian government officially condemned the attacks, although 95% of Saudis privately favored Osama Bin Laden's cause.[99][100]
Sudan: The Sudanese leaders and several Muslim clerics in Sudan denounced the attacks.
Tajikistan: The Tajik government denounced the attacks. People gathered in squares to light candles, prayed and offered good wishes.
Turkmenistan offered its condolences and offered the use of its airspace for relief.
Uzbekistan: Leaders in Uzbekistan condemned the attacks and called the White House to offer its condolences and also offered the use of its airspace.
Yemen: Clerics in Yemeni mosques heavily denounced the attacks and labelled them as "cowardly" and "un-Islamic".[24]
Palestinian celebrations
A group of
Palestinians were filmed celebrating in the street after hearing the local news reports of attacks on the World Trade Center and the deaths of thousands of Americans.
Fox News reported that in
Ein el-Hilweh, Lebanon's largest
Palestinian refugee camp, revelers fired weapons in the air, with similar celebratory gunfire also heard at the
Rashidiyeh camp near the southern city of
Tyre.[101]Yasser Arafat and nearly all the leaders of the
Palestinian National Authority (PNA) condemned the attacks. They censored and attempted to discredit broadcasts and other Palestinian news reports justifying the attacks in America,[101] with many newspapers, magazines, websites and wire services running photographs of Palestinian public celebrations.[102][103] The PNA claimed such celebrations were not representative of the sentiments of the
Palestinians, and the Information Minister
Yasser Abed Rabbo said the PNA would not allow "a few kids" to "smear the real face of the Palestinians". In an attempt to quell further reporting, Ahmed Abdel Rahman, Arafat's Cabinet secretary, said the Palestinian Authority could not "guarantee the life" of an
Associated Press (AP) cameraman if footage he filmed of post-9/11 celebrations in Nablus was broadcast. Rahman's statement prompted a formal protest from the AP bureau chief, Dan Perry.[104][105][103]
Arafat said of the attacks: "It's unbelievable. We completely condemn this very dangerous attack, and I convey my condolences to the American people, to the American president and to the American administration, not only in my name but on behalf of the Palestinians." He gave blood for victims of the attack in a Gaza hospital.[42]
James Bennet reported in The New York Times that while "most" towns in the
West Bank were quiet, some drivers in
East Jerusalem were honking horns in celebration; he also wrote that he saw one man passing out celebratory candy.[106] Big crowds of Palestinians celebrated in
Nablus, chanting Beloved bin Laden, strike Tel Aviv! while Palestinian Authority personnel prevented photographers from taking pictures.[106] Annette Krüger Spitta of the German public broadcaster
ARD's TV magazine Panorama states that unaired footage shows the street surrounding the celebration in Jerusalem was quiet. Furthermore, she states that a man in a white T-shirt incited the children and gathered people together for the shot. The Panorama report, dated September 20, 2001, quotes Communications Professor
Martin Löffelholz explaining that in the images one sees jubilant Palestinian children and several adults, but there is no indication that their pleasure is related to the attack. The woman seen cheering stated afterwards that she was offered cake if she celebrated on camera, and was frightened when she saw the pictures on television afterward.[107][108]
There was also a rumour that the footage of some Palestinians celebrating the attacks was stock footage of Palestinian reactions to the Iraqi
invasion of Kuwait in 1990.[109] This rumour was proven false shortly afterwards,[110] and
CNN issued a statement to that effect.[111] However, a poll of
Palestinians conducted by the
Fafo Foundation in 2005 found that 65% of respondents supported "Al Qaeda bombings in the USA and Europe".[112]
Non-governmental organizations
Intergovernmental organizations
Arab League:
Secretary GeneralAmr Moussa called the attacks "regrettable."[83] He also warned against the dangers of making accusations related to the perpetrators' identities without an appropriate basis.[113] Moussa sent a letter to and had a phone call with
United States Secretary of StateColin Powell in which he offered condolences and told Powell the Arab League found the attacks to be an outrage against humanity.[114]
European Union: European foreign ministers scheduled a rare emergency meeting the next day of the attacks to discuss a joint response, as officials expressed solidarity with the
United States. The external relations commissioner,
Chris Patten, called the attacks "the work of a madman."[31]
NATO held an emergency meeting of the alliance's ambassadors in Brussels. The Secretary General,
Lord Robertson, promised the United States that it could rely on its allies in North America and Europe for assistance and support, and pledged that those responsible would not get away with it.[31] In response
Article 5 was invoked and was confirmed on October 4, 2001, the first and so far only time Article 5 has been invoked in history.
Renowned Muslim scholar
Yusuf al-Qaradawi denounced the attacks and the unprovoked killings of thousands of American civilians as a "heinous crime" and urged Muslims to donate blood to the victims. He did, however, criticize the United States' "biased policy towards Israel" and also called on Muslims to "concentrate on facing the occupying enemy directly", inside the Palestinian territories.[116] The alleged
Hezbollah "spiritual mentor" and Lebanese Shia cleric
Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah condemned the attacks.
Ahmed Yassin, the spiritual leader of
Hamas, stated: "We are not ready to move our struggle outside the occupied Palestinian land. We are not prepared to open international fronts, however much we criticize the unfair American position." Yassin also stated: "No doubt this is a result of injustice the U.S practices against the weak in the world."[101][23]
Hezbollah condemned targeting civilians in the September 11 attacks.[117][118]
Polls taken several years later by Saudi-owned
Al Arabiya and
Gallup suggest some support for the September 11 attacks within the Islamic world, with 38% believing the attacks to be not justified, while 36% believing them to be justified when Saudis were polled in 2011.[119] Another 2008 study, produced by Gallup, found that 7% of the sample of Muslims polled believing the 9/11 attacks were "completely" justified.[120]
^Tertitskiy, Fyodor (September 11, 2018).
"How North Korean media covered the 9/11 terrorist attack". NK Consulting Inc. Archived from
the original on December 30, 2018. Thus we can surmise that the North Korean discourse on Islamist terrorism was closest to that of the American far-left: that while some aspects of the initial response were justified, this was just another act of unjustified aggression in the bloody history of American imperialism.
^Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism (May 21, 2002).
"Patterns of Global Terrorism 2001 - Thailand". United States Department of State.
Archived from the original on October 31, 2016. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
^"Just Like Us! Really?". The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. May 12, 2008.
Archived from the original on October 29, 2012. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
^"Muslim-Western Tensions Persist". Pew Research Center's Global Attitudes Project. July 21, 2011.
Archived from the original on January 20, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
^Khatami Slams ‘Imperial’ U.S., September 11, 2006. The Harvard Crimson. By Claire M. Guehenno. "Khatami, who condemned Osama Bin Laden and those who carry out terrorist acts in the name of Islam, also criticized the US for its “double standard” when it came to violence." "...he ended his speech in English, condemning again the Sept. 11 attacks and sharing his condolences with the victims."
^تشکر وزارت خارجه آمریکا از همدردی ایرانیان با قربانیان ۱۱ سپتامبر. (Persian).
Radio Farda. Sunday, September 11, 2011. (Iranian Hijri date: ۱۳۹۰/۰۶/۲۰).
Permanent Archived Link. Retrieved and Archived on June 30, 2016. Title translation: US Department of Foreign Affairs' (= translation of Department of State; because this department does the job of Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the United States) thankfulness for Iranians' sympathy for September 11 victims.
^"A Year After Iraq War". Pew Research Center's Global Attitudes Project. March 16, 2004.
Archived from the original on December 19, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
^Palestinian Authority has muzzled coverage of Palestinian celebrations' (MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE) 'Israel to AP: Release film of Palestinian celebrations' (Jerusalem Post/The Associated Press) 'Bin-Laden Poster Seen at Gaza Rally' (The Associated Press).
^Russell, James A., ed. (2009). Globalization and WMD Proliferation: Terrorism, Transnational Networks and International Security. Routledge. p. 86.
ISBN9781134079704.
^"HEZBOLLAH". Cjpme - English.
Archived from the original on February 6, 2016. Retrieved February 6, 2016.