NZ MOURNS WITH YOU, WE ARE ONE, ARDERN TELLS MUSLIMS
country falls silent to pay tribute to victims kiwi women don headscarves to show solidarity friday call to prayers broadcast nationally threatening twitter post sent to the premier
I did feel a sense of pride to honour my Muslim friends, but I also felt very vulnerable and alone as I was the only person wearing one.”
Rafaela Stoakes, a 32-year-old mother of two in headscarf
We are wearing headscarves showing our support, love and solidarity, and hope that by everybody doing this it will demonstrate to Muslim women ... that they are one with us.”
Robyn Molony, 65, wearing headscarf
It’s unbelievable looking at the crowd here, thousands of people gathering behind us during prayers. It’s a feeling of rejoicing.”
Ahmad Khan, a 36-year-old businessman
The country is united in this and nothing is ever going to break it. We’ll stand behind each other — anyone. Muslims, Christian, any religion.”
John Dale, 59, a Christchurch local
Today we really did feel the support from everyone. New Zealand has been amazing. Just having everyone by our side — it truly means a lot to all of us. It’s beautiful, so thank you
Hasma Adeeb, a local resident
The Muslim call to prayer sounded out over Christchurch and around New Zealand on Friday, as thousands gathered to remember the 50 people killed by a lone gunman at two mosques a week ago.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern joined about 20,000 people standing quietly at Hagley Park, in front of the Al Noor mosque where most of the victims were killed during Friday prayers last week.
“New Zealand mourns with you. We are one,” she said in a short speech, followed by two minutes of silence.
The country is under heightened security alert since the attack, and police said on Friday they were investigating a threat made against Ardern on Twitter.
reported that a Twitter post containing a photo of a gun and captioned “You are next” was sent to the prime minister. The report said the account was suspended.
Australian Brenton Tarrant, 28, a suspected white supremacist, has been charged with one murder following the Christchurch attack and was remanded without a plea.
He is due back in court on April 5, when police said he was likely to face more charges.
“We are broken-hearted, but we are not broken. We are alive, we are together, we are determined to not let anyone divide us,” Imam Gamal Fouda told the crowd at the Al Noor mosque, many wearing headscarves in support of the grieving Muslim community.
“To the families of the victims, your loved ones did not die in vain. Their blood has watered the seeds of hope,” he said in prayers broadcast nationally.
Tens of thousands of people paid their respects around the country with some forming human chains in front of mosques. Others said silent prayers at schools, cafes and even offices. Ardern, surrounded by ministers and security officials at Hagley Park, wore a black headscarf and a black suit. Female police at the park also wore headscarves, with a red rose on their uniforms.
In a powerful speech that lasted about 20 minutes, the imam, Fouda, said through its love and compassion, New Zealand was unbreakable. “We are here in our hundreds and thousands unified for one purpose — that hate will be undone, and love will redeem us,” he said.
He thanked Ardern for her compassion, saying: “It has been a lesson for world leaders.” Fouda also denounced Islamophobia, saying it had killed people. “Islamophobia is real. It is a targeted campaign to influence people to dehumanise and irrationally fear Muslims. To fear what we wear, to fear the choice of food we eat, to fear the way we pray and to fear the way we practice our faith,” he said. —