‘WE ARE ONE’

New Zealand Broadcasts Islamic Call to Prayer to Mark One Week Since Attack

The country also observed two minutes of silence.

It’s been one week since a gunman murdered 50 worshippers in two mosques in New Zealand and the country has come together to mark the event in shows of solidarity with its Muslim community. The Islamic call to prayer was broadcast nationwide, after which there was a two-minute silence. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern joined thousands of mourners for Friday prayers at the Al-Noor mosque—one of two targeted places of worship. Ardern told the crowd ahead of the prayers: “New Zealand mourns with you, we are one... According to the Prophet Muhammad... the believers in their mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are just like one body. When any part of the body suffers, the whole body feels pain.” Imam Gamal Fouda, who led the prayers, said: “We are broken-hearted, but we are not broken.” The Imam went on to say that the attack “broke the hearts of millions around the world,” but added: “Today, from the same place, I look out and I see the love and compassion. We are alive, we are together, we are determined to not let anyone divide us.”

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