CAIRO, Jan 7 (Aswat Masriya) - Egypt's highest religious institution, al-Azhar, condemned on Wednesday the attack on the headquarters of satirical French newspaper Charlie Hebdo that resulted in at least 12 deaths and many injuries.

Al-Azhar condemns the criminal armed attack on the French newspaper's headquarters, the institution said in a statement.

The statement comes following Egypt's foreign minister's deep condemnation of the attack.

Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri stressed that Egypt is "standing by France in fighting against terrorism, being a global phenomenon ... that requires united international efforts against it," reported state-run news agency MENA.

Shukri offered his condolences to the people and government of France.

Charlie Hebdo raised much controversy in 2011 after it showed offensive drawings of Islam's Prophet Muhammed.