NZ echoes with Azaan

 
March 23, 2019

CHRISTCHURCH: Azaan rang out over Christchurch and around New Zealand on Friday, as thousands gathered to remember the 50 people martyred by a lone gunman at two mosques a week ago.

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Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern led an estimated 5,000 people standing quietly at the Hagley Park in front of Al Noor Mosque, where most of the victims died.

In a short speech before the two minutes of silence, Jacinda read a Hadith of Prophet of Islam Muhammadur Rasoolallah’s (SAW): “The believers in their mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are just like one body. When any part of the body suffers, the whole body suffers pain.”

Hundreds of non-Muslims, including men, women and children, were also part of the crowd.

Addressing the crowd, Gamal Fouda, the imam of Al Noor Mosque, said, “New Zealand mourns with you. We are one.”

“We are broken-hearted, but we are not broken. We are alive, we are together, and we are determined to not let anyone divide us. To the families of victims, your loved ones did not die in vain. Their blood has watered the seeds of hope,” he said in prayers broadcast nationally.

“Last Friday I stood in this mosque and saw the hatred and the rage in the eyes of the terrorist who killed and martyred 50 innocent people, wounded 42, and broke the hearts of millions around the world.

“Today from the same place, I look out and I see the love and compassion in the eyes of thousands of fellow New Zealanders and human beings from across the globe, that fill the hearts of millions more who are not with us physically, but in spirit.

“This terrorist sought to tear our nation apart with an evil ideology that has torn the world apart. But instead we have shown that New Zealand is unbreakable and that the world can see in us an example of love and unity. “We are brokenhearted, but we are not broken. We are alive. We are together. We are determined to not let anyone divide us...”

“This evil ideology of white supremacy did not strike us first, yet it struck us hardest. The number of people killed is not ordinary, but the solidarity in New Zealand is extraordinary. To the families of the victims, your loved ones did not die in vain. Their blood has watered the seeds of hope. Through them, the world will see the beauty of Islam, and the beauty of our unity...”

“They were the best of us, taken from us on the best of days, in the best of places and performing the best of actions.

“And they are not just martyrs of Islam, but they are martyrs for this nation. Our loss of you is a gain to New Zealand´s unity and strength. Your departure is an awaking not just for our nation, but for all humanity...”

“To the people of New Zealand — thank you. Thank you for your tears. Thank you for your haka. Thank you for your flowers. Thank you for your love and compassion.”

Police are investigating death threats sent to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on the social media.

According to the NZ Herald, a Twitter post containing a photo of a gun and captioned “You are next” was sent to the prime minister.

Another post tagged Ardern and the New Zealand police said “next it’s you”.

A spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office said Twitter “seems to have algorithms for everything else and they owe the public a duty of care”.

Twitter suspended the account which contained anti-Islamic content and white supremacist hate speech.

The posts were pointed out to Twitter itself after the social networking giant tweeted a message of support following the Christchurch mosque attacks last Friday which left 50 people dead.

Meanwhile, New Zealand Friday reassured Muslims living in the country they would be “safe and secure” despite the deadly attacks on two mosques in Christchurch.

“Ensuring Muslim communities in New Zealand feel safe and secure is a particular focus,” New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters told an emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul.

Turkey´s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu praised New Zealand authorities and their “sincere solidarity messages”.

“We are here to show we are one body against Islamophobic actions across the world,” he said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, campaigning for local elections this month, has presented the attack as an assault on Islam and has demanded the West do more to counter Islamophobia.

Newspapers in New Zealand marked a week since a white supremacist gunned down 50 people at two mosques in the city of Christchurch.

The front page of The Press, Christchurch and the South Island’s premier daily newspaper and news website, had ‘Salam’ written in Arabic with its English transliteration and translation written below.

Other newspapers such as New Zealand Herald, The Dominion Post and Otago Daily Times also paid tribute to the martyrs of the attacks.

The front page of the New Zealand Herald had an image of a mosque filled with hearts and read, “A call to prayer. In unity there is strength.”

Otago Daily Times’ front page read “A city united” while The Dominion Post’s published names of the martyred and read, “1.32pm. Today we remember”.

Meanwhile, Muslim nations Friday called for “genuine” measures against Islamophobia after the attack on two New Zealand mosques.

“Violence driven by Islamophobia requires “genuine, comprehensive and systematic measures to address this affliction,” ministers from the OIC said in a statement after a meeting in Istanbul.

The OIC said attacks against mosques and murders of Muslims showed the “brutal, inhumane and horrific outcomes” of hatred of Islam.

It called for countries with Muslim communities, minorities or migrants to refrain from “statements and practices that associate Islam with terror, extremism and threats” to society. — Agencies

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