Kia ora koutou katoa
Assalum Alaikum Peace be upon you.
The Council meeting of 10 March 2022 is reconvened.
Today marks the third anniversary of the terrorist attack on Al Nur Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre where members of the city’s local Muslim community were at prayer. It is a day we will never forget.
I acknowledge the 51 shuhada, their families, the injured survivors, and all those who were witness to or affected by the attack.
We are not holding a civic Remembrance Service as we have previously – the bereaved families and those who survived the attack have asked that there is a different way to commemorate the day.
They want us as a city and as a nation to always remember the 51 shuhada – to never forget who they are and what they meant to those who loved them.
And they also want us to come together in Peace, Love and Unity – a reflection of the way we came together as a city and a nation at that time.
Remembering that time for peace, love, and unity, helps us all to remember what is important in life, even when we are confronted with the very worst of man’s inhumanity to man.
And at the same time it challenges us to ask whether we have lived up to our commitment to become a more inclusive society.
I attended the launch of Islamic Awareness Week which has focused attention on Love Peace and Unity and which concludes today, a day that also marks the beginning of Unity Week.
I want to acknowledge in particular the 15th March Whanau Trust and the Sakinah Community Trust for reaching out into the wider community in the spirit of cooperation to create a meaningful role that everyone can play to promote unity. I also acknowledge Mahia Te Aroha and InCommon. Thank you all for your wisdom, your courage and your leadership. These are groups that have been born of tragedy, inspired by compassion and empowered by generosity – the essence of what we commemorate today.
This afternoon at 1:39pm, again at the request of the families, Radio New Zealand will broadcast nationwide the Adhan, the Call to Prayer. Other radio stations will also play the Call to Prayer during the day. I wish to thank them all for doing so.
I will visit Al Noor Mosque today to welcome Temel Atacocugu as he completes his Walk For Peace. I want to honour him for his courage and tenacity for reclaiming the route from Dunedin to Christchurch for peace.
What a powerful act.
At the launch of Islam Awareness Week I quoted a message that one of our residents posted in response to the announcement about Islam Awareness Week and Unity Week being led by the Muslim community.
“I’m happy that the bereaved families have made their voices heard and been listened to. I don’t yet have the words apart from saying I am here and I stand with you.”
I am here – says I am present, I empathise with you, I recognise your humanity and I love you as a brother or a sister. And I stand with you – says I support you, I will walk alongside you, I will defend you, I have got your back.
And as we reflect on that time three years ago, for me those words are reflected in the actions of those who turned up for the Call to Prayer one week after the attack.
The wider community wasn’t asked to come – they just came – in their thousands. It was the most powerful expression of solidarity I have ever witnessed.
So let us all say ‘I am here and I stand with you’ today and every day. We are here and we stand together.
I now invite everyone to join me in observing a minute’s silence to acknowledge the victims of the 15 March 2019 terrorist attack.
Assalum Alaikum Peace be upon you.
The Council meeting of 10 March 2022 is reconvened.
Today marks the third anniversary of the terrorist attack on Al Nur Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre where members of the city’s local Muslim community were at prayer. It is a day we will never forget.
I acknowledge the 51 shuhada, their families, the injured survivors, and all those who were witness to or affected by the attack.
We are not holding a civic Remembrance Service as we have previously – the bereaved families and those who survived the attack have asked that there is a different way to commemorate the day.
They want us as a city and as a nation to always remember the 51 shuhada – to never forget who they are and what they meant to those who loved them.
And they also want us to come together in Peace, Love and Unity – a reflection of the way we came together as a city and a nation at that time.
Remembering that time for peace, love, and unity, helps us all to remember what is important in life, even when we are confronted with the very worst of man’s inhumanity to man.
And at the same time it challenges us to ask whether we have lived up to our commitment to become a more inclusive society.
I attended the launch of Islamic Awareness Week which has focused attention on Love Peace and Unity and which concludes today, a day that also marks the beginning of Unity Week.
I want to acknowledge in particular the 15th March Whanau Trust and the Sakinah Community Trust for reaching out into the wider community in the spirit of cooperation to create a meaningful role that everyone can play to promote unity. I also acknowledge Mahia Te Aroha and InCommon. Thank you all for your wisdom, your courage and your leadership. These are groups that have been born of tragedy, inspired by compassion and empowered by generosity – the essence of what we commemorate today.
This afternoon at 1:39pm, again at the request of the families, Radio New Zealand will broadcast nationwide the Adhan, the Call to Prayer. Other radio stations will also play the Call to Prayer during the day. I wish to thank them all for doing so.
I will visit Al Noor Mosque today to welcome Temel Atacocugu as he completes his Walk For Peace. I want to honour him for his courage and tenacity for reclaiming the route from Dunedin to Christchurch for peace.
What a powerful act.
At the launch of Islam Awareness Week I quoted a message that one of our residents posted in response to the announcement about Islam Awareness Week and Unity Week being led by the Muslim community.
“I’m happy that the bereaved families have made their voices heard and been listened to. I don’t yet have the words apart from saying I am here and I stand with you.”
I am here – says I am present, I empathise with you, I recognise your humanity and I love you as a brother or a sister. And I stand with you – says I support you, I will walk alongside you, I will defend you, I have got your back.
And as we reflect on that time three years ago, for me those words are reflected in the actions of those who turned up for the Call to Prayer one week after the attack.
The wider community wasn’t asked to come – they just came – in their thousands. It was the most powerful expression of solidarity I have ever witnessed.
So let us all say ‘I am here and I stand with you’ today and every day. We are here and we stand together.
I now invite everyone to join me in observing a minute’s silence to acknowledge the victims of the 15 March 2019 terrorist attack.