Prince William travels to New Zealand to honor victims of shootings at the mosque

Prince William will visit the victims of the shooting of the Christchurch Mosque next month, announced Thursday the New Zealand premier Jacinda Ardern on the eve of a national commemorative service held in the mourning town south of the South Island.

According to Ardern, the purpose of this service and the royal visit next month was to support the Muslim community, devastated by the murder of a self-proclaimed white supremacist 50

Ardern s & # 39, will address the service, which has the theme "We are one" and will be broadcast on national television.

She told representatives of 59 countries, including Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison attending the event, which is expected to attract tens of thousands of people.

The focus will be on the Islamic community, with a ringi invocation Through Hagley Park, speeches of Muslim leaders and interpretation of Cat Stevens, British singer who fled celebrity in the 1970s and became a Muslim, taking the name of Yusuf Islam.

"It was an event that affected New Zealand deeply, but it was our New Zealander Muslims who were the target of this act of hate," Ardern told reporters in Christchurch.

"Rightly this will be reflected in the service of remembrance."

She stated that William, the Duke of Cambridge, was "very eager to show his support for the city and the Muslim community as a result of this attack."

"Foolish Attack"

William will represent his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, the official head of the former British colony.

"This visit will be another sign that the nation will always stand by the people affected by the terrorist attacks and the people of Christchurch," said Ardern.

The members of the royal family have already expressed their sympathy for the attacks.

"The Duke will meet the people affected by the attack and pay tribute to the extraordinary compbadion and solidarity shown by the people of New Zealand in recent weeks," Kensington Palace said in a statement. .

Ardern said William already had close ties to Christchurch and the surrounding area after the devastating 2011 earthquake that killed 185 people.

William paid a two-day visit to Christchurch following the earthquake to attend a commemorative ceremony. He and his wife Kate also visited the city in 2014.

After the attacks of the mosque, William, Kate, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan sent a message ending "Kia kaha", which means "be strong "in maori.

"No one should have to fear attending a sacred place of worship," he said.

"This senseless attack is an affront to the people of Christchurch and New Zealand as well as for the Muslim community in general. a way of life that embodies decency, community and friendship. "

Ardern led efforts to support the small, closely related New Zealand Muslim community as a result of the attack."

As well as symbolic gestures like donning while comforting survivors, she also decided to strengthen gun laws and called on social media giants to further fight hate speech.

play a leading role in making this happen. [19659004] have never been liberated from racism or violent ideology, "she said

" But our core values ​​are those of fairness, compbadion and diversity. "

(Except the title, this story was not published by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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