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Christchurch, New Zealand – A minute of national silence was observed Friday in New Zealand – inaugurated by the call to Muslim prayer – a weekafter 50 people were killed and dozens wounded in a attack on two mosques.
The prayer and the two minutes of reflection were broadcast live on the national media. About 20,000 people, including Premier Jacinda Ardern, gathered a few meters from the Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch City for Friday prayers.
Al Noor was one of two targeted places of worship in the city during the worst mbad shot of New Zealand's modern history, allegedly performed by born in Australia Brenton Tarrant, with the Linwood Mosque.
Imam Gamal Fouda, head of prayer at Al Noor Mosque who was present at last week's attack, told mourners in Christchurch that he "had seen hatred and the rage in the eyes of the terrorist ".
"Today, from the same place, I look out and I see the love and compbadion in the eyes of thousands of New Zealanders and human beings around the world," Fouda said.
"We have shown that New Zealand is indestructible and that the world can see in us an example of love and unity – we are heartbroken, but we are not."
A woman wearing a headscarf in tribute to the victims of mosque attacks [Reuters] |
Fouda called on New Zealand and governments "around the world" to "end hate speech", saying Friday's attack was the result of "rhetoric rhetoric anti-Islamic and anti-Muslim some political leaders, news agencies and others ".
Tarrant appeared to publish an overtly supremacist online manifesto, which called for "violence" against immigrants, minutes before Friday's attack
"Last week's event is proof to the world that terrorism has no color, no race and no religion," Fouda said. .
"The rise of white supremacism and right-wing extremism is a great global threat to humanity, and it must stop now. "
& # 39; A special day & # 39;
Prior to Fouda's speech and Friday prayers, Ardern quoted the Prophet Muhammad in a brief speech to the crowd.
"When a body part suffers, the whole body feels pain," said Ardern, dressed in a black scarf. "New Zealand is crying with you, we are one."
Many who came to pray in Christchurch came from all over New Zealand, where about five million people lived, and from all over the world.
Their shoes, lined up along the makeshift barriers in the outdoor prayer areas, were too numerous to count.
According to estimates of the local council, nearly 5,000 Muslims attended the prayer, that is to say nearly one tenth of the total Muslim population of the country.
Participant Imran Khan, who arrived from Auckland on Friday morning with four friends, said it was important to be present to "show his support" to the family of his friend Ashraf Azad. Azad was one of 50 people shot dead last week, in which Ardern called a "terrorist" attack.
"Every time you look at the mosque, you get a picture of what it must have been for the people who were here at that time. [of the attack]Khan said to Al Jazeera, his voice trembling with emotion.
"[But] the support we receive from other groups in society is incredible … It shows that religion is not everything, it is love and unity that counts, people are mobilizing for that, "he added. .
"My husband and my son … were brave people."
Naeem Rashid and his son were both killed during a shootout at the New Zealand mosque. Al Jazeera spoke to their family. pic.twitter.com/L0jc4pbG3T
– Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) March 19, 2019
Others, such as Ahmed Osman, a regular at the Al Noor newspaper in Christchurch, said the event proved that Friday's shooter had failed to achieve his stated goal of sowing division of the society.
"The thing has arrived but we will always be together … Now we will support each other more and more together, we are now looking to the future," said Osman, whose uncle was killed on Friday, in Al Jazeera. .
"Today is a special day for our hearts … The people of Christchurch are going to unite," he added.
New Zealanders in support
Thousands of non-Muslims attended the ceremony, forming a sea of silence behind the prayer areas while the Muslims were worshiping, near a police cordon limiting access to the mosque.
Among them, many women from all walks of life have chosen to wear the headscarf to show their solidarity with the Muslim community, which has no more than a few thousand people locally and about 50,000 nationwide. .
Jeanine Benson, a resident of Christchurch, said that she had chosen to wear this garment as a "show of respect" towards the city's Muslims, adding that it was important to "gather in New Zealand." ".
"I know everyone keeps talking about that [attack] It's not New Zealand, but it should not happen anywhere, "Benson told Al Jazeera.
"I pbaded by this mosque [Al Noor] every day I go to work, and think that what happened there makes me feel physically sick, "she added.
"For everyone, it's not the end, it's only the beginning of a journey of healing."
Mosques will reopen
The rally took place after another shooting victim, who had also seen the attacked neighboring Linwood mosque, was put to rest earlier on Friday.
At least 26 more burials are expected to take place later in the afternoon, the Christchurch Council said in a statement.
The mosques in Linwood and Al Noor are also scheduled to reopen on Saturday, a New Zealander spokesman told Al Jazeera.
"[Both] have been restored and will be handed over to the community, "said spokeswoman. The community will communicate its plans for the coming prayer. "
A "March for Love" rally is also scheduled in Christchurch on Saturday. Thousands of people are expected.
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