‘Make friends, not enemies’

As the call to prayer sounded throughout the Wellington Islamic Centre mosque yesterday, a man bowed his head and wiped a single tear from his eye.

Inside, people gathered in silence. Outside, thousands stood, arms linked, in silence too.

‘‘Islam always asks us to make friends, not enemies, build bridges, not walls, share and not hold,’’ the imam said as the service began.

‘‘The recent incident [in] Christchurch shows us it is more important than ever to live in peace, harmony and affection.

‘‘We should submit our thanks to all of those who have been standing beside us.’’

The faithful sat where they could inside the crowded mosque, as they thought about how their friends had gathered in the same way, at the same time, last week in Christchurch.

After the terrorist attacks – which left 50 dead – Wellingtonians began to lay flowers outside the Kilbirnie mosque.

Those flowers grew into a floral sea which surrounded the entrance, welcoming people as they made their way into the building yesterday.

Those gathered outside quietly sang the Ma¯ ori waiata Te Aroha as people filed inside for the prayer service.

Kerem Caliskan said he was moved to see how the wider Wellington community had responded.

‘‘I have always felt, even before the attack, we were one,’’ Caliskan said. ‘‘I never felt like someone else. Today proved that.’’

Following the prayer service, Police Commissioner Mike Bush told those gathered that police would do all they could to keep the community safe.

‘‘We will do everything humanly possible to prevent anything that causes you harm again,’’ he said.

One Wellington woman, who did not want to be named, said the outpouring of love over the past week shouldn’t stop.

‘‘I am a Christian, and we have got to learn to reach out to all people,’’ she said.

‘‘We have got to keep reaching out to people and accept them. Whatever faith, creed or colour.’’

Mayor Justin Lester told the crowd that the greater Wellington region would continue to walk with their Muslim residents in the future.

‘‘We will stand shoulder to shoulder with you,’’ Lester said to the crowd.

ROSA WOODS/STUFF A woman prays outside Wellington’s Kilbirnie mosque, a week after 50 people were killed while gathering to pray in Christchurch.

The crowd that gathered outside the Wellington Islamic Community mosque yesterday. Below: People link arms around the venue to protect those praying inside.

A boy runs inside as the prayer service begins.

There were tears as mourners gathered at the mosque.