French Muslim Leaders Condemn Charlie Hebdo Terrorist Attack: Reports

MOSCOW, January 7 (Sputnik) — Representatives of French Muslim Organizations have strongly condemned the terrorist attack on Charlie Hebdo French magazine, UK newspaper The Independent reported Wednesday.

"The [Union of Islamic Organizations of France] UOIF condemns, in the strongest possible terms, this criminal attack and these horrible murders and offers its condolences to the families as well as the employees of Charlie Hebdo," the union, representing over 250 Muslim organizations across France, was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

The French Council of the Muslim Faith called the attack a "barbaric act against democracy and freedom of the press".

"I am extremely angry. These are criminals, barbarians. They have sold their soul to hell. This is not freedom. This is not Islam and I hope the French will come out united at the end of this," The Independent cited Hassen Chalghoumi, imam of the Drancy mosque in a Paris suburb.

Outside France, the Arab League, an organization of independent Arab countries, and al-Azhar, one of the most known Islamic institutions, denounced the terrorist attack.

Hundreds of French Muslims joined the condemnation on Twitter.

Gunmen attacked the office of a weekly French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo on Wednesday morning, killing 12 people.