Thousands gather in New Zealand to show Muslim community ‘we are one’
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern joined about 20,000 people in front of the al-Noor mosque where most of the victims were killed last week
Christchurch — The Muslim call to prayer sounded out over Christchurch and around New Zealand on Friday, as thousands gathered to remember the 50 people killed by a lone gunman at two mosques a week ago. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern joined about 20,000 people standing quietly at Hagley Park, in front of the al-Noor mosque where most of the victims were killed during Friday prayers last week. “New Zealand mourns with you. We are one,” she said in a short speech, followed by two minutes of silence. Most victims of New Zealand's worst mass shooting were migrants or refugees from countries such as Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey, Somalia, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. “We are broken-hearted, but we are not broken. We are alive, we are together, we are determined to not let anyone divide us,” Imam Gamal Fouda told the crowd, many wearing headscarves in support of the grieving Muslim community. “To the families of the victims, your loved ones did not die in vain. Their blood h...
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