Christchurch: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and thousands of others congregated in Hagley Park opposite the Al Noor mosque in Christchurch to observe the call to prayer early Friday afternoon, as the nation reflects on the moment one week ago when 50 people were killed at two mosques.
Islamic Call to Prayer was broadcast on television and radio across New Zealand at 1.30pm. The prayer was followed by two minutes of silence for the dead and the injured.
An estimated 20,000 people, including Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, gathered at the site in the city of Christchurch for Muslim Friday prayers. Al Noor was one of the two places of worship targeted in the city during the worst mass shooting in New Zealand’s modern history.
Prior to the prayers, Ardern, who was wearing a black headscarf, quoted the Prophet Muhammad during a brief address to the crowd. She said, “When any part of the body suffers, the whole body feels pain.” She added, “New Zealand mourns with you, we are one.” This was reported by Al-Jazeera.
Imam Gamal Fouda delivered a powerful Friday sermon in which he said “We have shown that New Zealand is unbreakable, and the world can see in us an example of love and unity. We are broken-hearted, but we are not broken.”
Forming a sea of silence behind the prayer areas while Muslims worshipped, thousands of non-Muslims attended the ceremony. Many women wore headscarves in a show of solidarity with the Muslim community.
A mass burial will take place later in the afternoon. Both the Linwood and Al Noor mosques are also expected to reopen on Saturday. A “March for Love” rally is also scheduled to take place in Christchurch on Saturday in which thousands of people are expected to attend.
