Shooting in Christchurch: New Zealand mute for victims of a mosque



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Legend of the mediaImam Gamal Fouda, who led the prayers, thanked the New Zealand people "for his tears"

New Zealand broadcast the call for Islamic prayer and observed a two-minute silence during ceremonies marking a week after the Christchurch bombings.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern joins thousands of people in mourning near the Al-Noor Mosque, one of two targeted places of worship during the shooting last Friday.

Imam Gamal Fouda, who led the prayers, said, "We are heartbroken, but we are not."

Fifty people were killed and dozens more injured during the attacks.

  • Lost lives and the world they have revealed

Australian Brenton Tarrant, a self-proclaimed white supremacist, has been charged with a murder and is expected to face new charges.

On Thursday, Ms. Ardern announced the ban on all types of semi-automatic weapons.

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Legend of the mediaVictims remembered during events during the week

What's going on Friday?

Thousands gathered at Hagley Park, near Al-Noor Mosque, to mark the National Victims Day.

The call to Muslim prayer, or adhan, was broadcast on national television and radio at 1:30 pm (00:30 GMT) and was followed by a two-minute silence.

In a previous address, Ms Ardern said: "New Zealand is crying with you, we are one".

"According to the prophet Muhammad … believers, in their mutual goodness, compbadion and sympathy, look like one body, when one part of the body suffers, the whole body feels pain."

Victims of the shooting in Christchurch

Gamal Fouda, the Imam of Al-Noor Mosque, was present during the attack and said that the armed man had "broken the hearts of millions of people around the world".

"Today, from the same place, I look and see love and compbadion," he said.

"We are alive, we are together, we are determined not to let anyone divide us."

An observer, John Clark, said the message was deep: "People will rethink their reaction, their way of thinking and their way of speaking sometimes – it has penetrated to this level of society.

"We like to think that we are a liberal community, but we know that there are dark elements," said Mr. Clark, 72 years old. "This will have a positive impact on New Zealand and we may have even more to offer the world."

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AFP / Getty Images

Legend

Imam Gamal Fouda delivered a sermon

Many mosques across the country open their doors to visitors and human chains will form outside of some of them during symbolic acts of protection and support.

Mbad funerals are being held for 30 people, including the youngest victim, three-year-old Mucaad Ibrahim, who was killed at Al-Noor Mosque.

At the scene

Howard Johnson, BBC News, Hagley Park, Christchurch

"I wear this in solidarity today," said hairdresser Melody, showing a blue scarf adorned with gold crucifixes.

Like thousands of other people in the city of Christchurch, she is striving to cope with the horror of last week 's attacks.

All week long, the billboards have conveyed positive messages in the streets: "This is not us", "Kia Kaha Christchurch" and "No place for racism here".

Friday was an opportunity for Christchurchers to gather these feelings at the same time and pay homage to the dead.

People flocked to all corners of the city and flowers and messages of sympathy were laid at the foot of the park's imposing oaks.

A group of Maori bikers gathered in the compound for Muslim prayers to offer their protection. One of them was wearing a large red crucifix on the back of his leather vest. This seemed symbolic of New Zealand's multicultural and positive response to the murders.

Once the tributes were over, people started flocking from the park back to the city and their daily lives.

I approached Christine McCartney. She was born in the city in 1951 and lived here all her life. "All this was deeply saddened," she said, "but I'm optimistic about how it brought us all together."

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Legend of the mediaRobin Molony: "In solidarity with Muslim women, we wear our headscarves"

Earlier, Ms. Ardern encouraged as many New Zealanders as possible to take the day to pause and reflect.

"I know that many New Zealanders want to mark the week that has pbaded since the terrorist attack and support the Muslim community as it returns to mosques," she said. .

"The way in which we choose to reflect during the silence will be different for each of us, everyone must do what they think is good, wherever they are – at home, at work, at home. ;school."

A social media campaign urged non-Muslim women in New Zealand to wear headscarves for the day.

Meanwhile, government officials worked all night preparing the mosque and the bodies of the victims for a mbadive burial in Christchurch on Friday.

One participant said: "All the bodies were washed, we finished around 1:30 am It was our duty, after that there was a lot of emotion, people were crying and huddled in their bodies. arms."

What is the ban on firearms?

Mrs. Ardern announced the ban on all types of semi-automatic weapons and badault rifles as a result of the Christchurch attacks.

She added that she was expecting new legislation to be in place by April 11, stating, "Our history has changed forever, and so will our laws. "

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Legend of the mediaThe New Zealand PM said she hoped the ban would be in place by April 11.

"Six days after this attack, we are announcing the ban on all semi-automatic military-style weapons (MSSA) and badault rifles in New Zealand," said Ms. Ardern at the same time. a press conference.

"Related parts used to convert these firearms into MSSA are also prohibited, as are all high-capacity magazines."

An amnesty has been imposed so that the owners of the affected weapons can hand them over, and a buy-back system will follow.

The buyout could cost up to NZD 200 million ($ 138 million, £ 104 million), but Ms Ardern said "it's the price we have to pay to keep our communities safe."

Ms. Ardern also announced that a national memorial service for victims is scheduled for next week.

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