NZ ‘unbreakable’, imam tells Christchurch gathering

CHRISTCHURCH: New Zealand fell silent yesterday as the nation mourned the 50 Muslim men, women and children gunned down in their places of worship just a week earlier.

At Hagley Park in Christchurch, close to the scene of where 42 people were killed at the Al Noor mosque, Imam Gamal Fouda gave a moving address telling a crowd of thousands: ‘‘New Zealand is unbreakable. We are broken hearted but we are not broken.’’

The gathering, which was attended by Muslim devotees and others wanting to pay their respects to the dead, the injured, their families and friends, was to mark the Jummah Salah, or afternoon prayer.

It was at these events at the Al Noor mosque and Linwood mosque last Friday that the alleged gunman killed 50 people and injured 48 more.

‘‘Last Friday, I stood in this mosque and saw hatred and rage in the eyes of the terrorist who killed 50 people, wounded 48 and broke the hearts of millions around the world,’’ Mr Fouda said.

‘‘Today, from the same place, I look out and I see the love and compassion in the eyes of thousands of fellow New Zealanders and human beings from across the globe who fill the hearts of millions warm.’’

He told the families of victims that their loved ones did not die in vain.

‘‘Their blood has watered the seeds of hope and it will show the world the beauty of Islam,’’ he said.

Those who died ‘‘were the best of us taken on the best of days in the best of places’’ he said.

‘‘They are not just martyrs of Islam but also New Zealand,’’ he said.

‘‘To the people of New Zealand, thank you. Thank you for your tears, thank you for your haka, thank you for your flowers, thank you for your love and your compassion,’’ he said.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had earlier addressed the large gathering saying: ‘‘New Zealand mourns with you. ‘‘We are one.’’

Poignant footage from the Friday prayer memorial was broadcast live across the globe; including footage of several of the survivors of the tragedy who were seated in wheelchairs, bandaged and wearing hospital robes.

While the service was carried out, a line of hearses arrived at the nearby Memorial Park Cemetery for a combined burial of 26 of the mosque shooting victims. — NZME