Jordan Times
Monday, March 15, 2004

Around 220 people gather at Spanish embassy in show of solidarity

By Alia Shukri Hamzeh

Carrying banners that read “for the sake of the victims,” and “peace,” the mourners lit candles and placed flowers near the Spanish flag, lowered at half-mast.

“I cannot express how I feel... It is terrible,” said Nayrouz Abu Shaer as she tried to hold back her tears. The 24-year-old student told The Jordan Times she joined the embassy's gathering to express anger and condemnation at Thursday's bombings on commuter trains in Madrid, which killed 200 people and wounded 1,500 others.

The bombings were condemned the world over. Leaders and citizens of various countries slammed the terrorist attacks — described the worst in Spain's history — as barbaric and unjustifiable. World leaders also warned the international community to keep its guard up against terrorism, as Germany called for an emergency EU security conference to work out ways to prevent similar attacks in Europe.

“Innocent people don't deserve this,” said Abu Shaer as she lit a candle.

“We want to tell the Spanish people that as Arabs, Muslims and Christians we are with them and we denounce any violent acts that are against peace,” she added.

Spanish Interior Minister Angel Acebes announced on Saturday that Spanish authorities arrested three Moroccans and two Indians in connection with the attacks.

Spanish authorities found a videotape, purportedly from Al Qaeda and claiming responsibility for Thursday's bombing. Observers believe the attacks could have been prompted by Spain's support for the US-led war on Iraq.

“Such a criminal attack is counterproductive to Arabs, Muslims, the people of Palestine, Iraq and the region,” said one woman attending the vigil.

“If Al Qaeda did commit such an act, I believe it was orchestrated by other more powerful sources that would stand to gain from widening the rift between the two civilisations,” she added.

Spanish Ambassador to Jordan Antonio Lopez expressed grief at the loss of lives and thanked the supporters attending the vigil.

“In Spain and here in Jordan, 200 people are missing... We send them and their families and their friends — some of them present here today —our thoughts and we express our strongest and most furious rejection to those who have committed this barbaric act,” he said.

The gathering — attended by many of the Spanish community in the Kingdom as well as students of the Cervantes Institute — observed three minutes of silence as participants held hands in a sign of “fraternity and in memory of the tragedy and its victims.”

The ambassador reiterated Spain's resilience against terrorism, saying the country knows well that against the injustice and cruelty, there is only place for unity, firmness and serenity.

“I lived in Spain for eight years, and I wanted to come here to share with the Spanish people my feelings of sadness over what happened,” said 19-year-old Farah Etoum. A large number of Jordanians have studied in Spain over the past years.

Also Sunday, the Romanian embassy announced that eight Romanians were killed in the Madrid blasts.

An embassy official said the mission would open a book of condolences from 10am to 2:00pm on Tuesday and Wednesday. He said March 14 was declared a national day of mourning in memory of the victims and as an expression of solidarity with the Spanish people. The envoy said Romania will take part in observing three minutes of silence in the memory of the victims alongside other EU member countries today.

Later Sunday, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported that a Spanish citizen of Jordanian origin was amongst those injured during Thursday's train bombing. Petra quoted Jordan's Ambassador to Spain Abdullah Sraj as saying that Aduris Malek Majali, who suffered a leg injury, was in a stable condition. Sraj visited Majali in hospital and conveyed His Majesty King Abdullah's regards.

Back to March 15, 2004