New York – Brussels: Europe and the Arabs

On this day—September 11th—a quarter of a century ago, the attacks in New York, United States, took place. Subsequent announcements revealed the involvement of operatives from Al-Qaeda, led by Osama bin Laden. In the intervening years, the world has witnessed significant and perilous transformations—most notably the onset of the so-called "War on Terror." While the term "terrorism" was not widely prevalent prior to these attacks, the events—which claimed thousands of lives and left many more injured—shattered the image of the United States as the sole superpower. Action on multiple fronts became necessary to restore the nation's prestige. International cooperation in counter-terrorism emerged, alongside global conferences and security agreements between nations. This evolved into cooperation to combat political Islam, and the term "Islamic terrorism" gained currency—particularly following bombings in European countries. Subsequently, discourse shifted toward democratic transition and regime change, accompanied by the emergence of concepts such as the "deep state," interim governments, the "Arab Spring," and others. Eventually, terms like "interfaith dialogue," "religious complexes," the "Abrahamic faith," and the "renewal of religious discourse" came to the fore. The ultimate result is the reality we see today in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Sudan, Palestine, and elsewhere.
The United Nations marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States, reaffirming its solidarity with the victims' families, survivors, and all those whose lives were affected by this tragedy. In a statement issued on the eve of the anniversary, Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the United Nations, said that those "heinous terrorist attacks" constituted an "assault on humanity itself," claimed the lives of thousands of people, and left a profound mark on our world.
He added that, on this solemn occasion, the United Nations remembers the nearly 3,000 victims—from the United States and more than 90 other countries—and stands with their families and loved ones.
Haq also paid tribute to the survivors and first responders, noting that they demonstrated "exceptional courage and humanity," and highlighting that many sacrificed their lives to save others.
The United Nations affirmed its solidarity with the residents of New York City and the people of the United States, as well as with all those whose lives were affected by the attacks.
Haq noted that this year also marks the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy by Member States, describing it as a reminder that the fight against terrorism remains an "unfinished collective task."
As the victims of the September 11 attacks are commemorated, the United Nations called for a renewed shared commitment to building a future free from terrorism.