‘You have taught the world’
Prince Charles called Farid Ahmed’s forgiveness of the Christchurch mosque gunman a “shining example to us all” in a poignant Easter message.
Now, the future king’s son Prince William has met the shooting survivor at the scene of the tragedy after delivering his own stirring message to Kiwis.
“An act of violence was designed to change New Zealand,” the Prince said. “But instead, the grief of a nation revealed just how deep your wells of empathy, compassion, warmth, and love truly run. “To the people of New Zealand and the people of Christchurch – to our Muslim community and all those who have rallied to your side – I stand with you in gratitude for what you have taught the world these past weeks. I stand with you in firm belief that the forces of love will always prevail over the forces of hate.”
It wasn’t the usual crowd of Union Jack-waving grandmothers patiently waiting for a glimpse of Prince William.
There were hijab and chequered keffiyeh headscarves scattered among nurses in blue scrubs. There were fans in Crusaders jerseys, a “Ban 1080” protester. Few schoolchildren, despite it being the holidays, but some tourists stopped to watch.
Even face-tattooed gangsters, well-eyed by the armed police warily guarding the mosques and hospital that the Duke of Cambridge visited, roared up on modified motorbikes to steal a selfie.
“Kia ora!” a man hollered as Prince William stepped from a silver BMW, buttoned up his navy-blue suit jacket, and strolled inside the Al Noor Mosque gates in Christchurch.
Six weeks ago, 42 Muslim worshippers were slaughtered there during Friday prayer.
Yesterday, the duke praised the Al Noor congregation, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and city residents with “a famous strength of character”, for their response to New Zealand’s worst terror attack.
“In a moment of acute pain you stood up and you stood together and in reaction to tragedy you achieved something remarkable. You showed the way we must respond to hate — with love,” he said.
He even referenced the 1997 death of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales: “I have had reasons myself to reflect on grief and sudden pain and loss in my own life” and warned that you “never forget the shock, the sadness, and the pain”.
The whirlwind royal tour went down well. Just as it did when Prince William — then, as now, representing his grandmother, the Queen, — visited a still rocking Christchurch just weeks after the February 22, 2011, earthquake which killed 185.
William shook hands and chatted with survivors.
Mustafa Boztas was impressed after hearing a “speech from his heart”.
“He’s a very humble person, just like his mother,” said Boztas, 21, who was shot in the leg at Al Noor and was discharged from hospital on Tuesday.
“We need more people like him. I’ll remember everything he said. He said we are all one and should stand together as a nation.”
Temel Atacocugu lifted his shirt and showed some of his nine bullet wounds. “Wow,” said a stunned William, who quietly listened to Turkey-born Atacocugu tell his story.
Farid Ahmed, whose wife Husna Ahmed died at the mosque, spoke before Prince William, saying, “We have to keep up hope and not surrender to hatred”.
William’s father, Prince Charles, mentioned Ahmed in his Easter message this year, saying he was a “shining example to us all” in the way he way he had forgiven the gunman.
When William arrived at Christchurch Hospital, a big cheer went up. After a trip to the Linwood Masjid, where seven Muslims had died, he returned to walk beside the Avon River. He laid a wreath at Oi Manawa Canterbury Earthquake Memorial on its southbank, feeling the names etched into the stone wall.
“Thank you for coming!” shouted several in the crowds.
William squinted into the late autumn sun, shook hands and fielded questions about kids’ birthdays. There were only glimpses of the usual fanfare and regal hoopla; a lonesome St George flag; giggling schoolgirls; fawning mothers.
Finally, after greeting hundreds, William thanked everyone and waved goodbye as he stepped into his silver BMW.
“See you, William!” they said. And then he was gone.