Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern went to Hagley Park in Christchurch, along with thousands of others who came together to acknowledge the Muslim call to prayer exactly a week after the terror attacks at two mosques which killed 50 people. Broadcasters, reporters and security were pictured wearing hijabs at the park as a tribute to the victims.
Thousands flocked to the park to stand in solidarity
Thousands of worshippers in Christchurch’s Hagley Park for Friday prayers pic.twitter.com/n3RP1L1XAw
— Martin Fricker (@martinfricker) March 22, 2019
Reporters and security workers are wearing hijab out of respect as people gather in Christchurch’s Hagley Park for Friday prayers, one week after the mosque shootings. pic.twitter.com/t5Z6bJ7uJQ
— Anna Fifield (@annafifield) March 21, 2019
I just realized that one of the imams on the stage in Christchurch was on the front page of the paper the day after the attacks. I can’t even imagine… pic.twitter.com/ph86WlZxEZ
— Anna Fifield (@annafifield) March 22, 2019
The call to prayer was made, followed by two minutes of silence
A nationwide day of mourning and reflection for the Christchurch attack victims is being held in NZ with a call to prayer from Islamic community leaders followed by a two-minute silence.
MORE: https://t.co/WKRBQ8U1mK #SkyLiveNow pic.twitter.com/QwigWWExrK
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) March 22, 2019
Kiwis shared their experience of the call to prayer on social media
Today's call to prayer was deeply moving. I don't think I'll ever be able to hear the call to prayer the same way ever again. I feel as though it is now part of my own cultural identity as a New Zealander – a part of who we are. No longer an outsider looking in.
— Ben Martell (@golden8284) March 22, 2019
The call to prayer echoes over Christchurch a week after the twin mosque massacre by a white supremacist. A remarkable sight and a powerful rebuke to the hatred unleashed that day pic.twitter.com/SsqNvQsfa6
— Jerome Taylor (@JeromeTaylor) March 22, 2019
Attending the Friday prayers in Hagley Park was very healing. I wept silently the entire time. The call to prayer immediately followed by 2 minutes silence was immensely powerful.
— Tom (@_T0M_V_) March 22, 2019
I’m at Auckland airport and the whole, busy place just stopped for the call to prayer and two minutes silence. I love New Zealand.
— Jacqueline Maley (@JacquelineMaley) March 22, 2019
https://twitter.com/TouchMyPoly/status/1108891712565313537
Over the past few days I've received staggering abuse here for supporting the call to prayer in #Christchurch. It's a good thing, a reminder that if a white person can be so vilified for expressing solidarity with Muslims, just imagine the savagery they must face very single day.
— Catherine Marshall (@zizzyballord) March 22, 2019
New Zealand has just stopped to hear the Muslim call to prayer and to observe two minutes of silence. Let's hang on to this moment of collective civility in the time to come.
— Giovanni Tiso (@gtiso) March 22, 2019
Amidst this immense tragedy, the response of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and the people of New Zealand has been beautiful. In these highly tense and politicised times, it’s refreshing to see a bit of humanity in the face of unthinkable hatred.
Let’s not forget the names of the innocent souls who went to the mosque on a regular Friday (like so many of us do on such a regular basis) and never returned…
The country has observed the Muslim call to prayer and two minutes of silence in Christchurch, one week after terror attacks that killed 50 people at two mosques in the city. pic.twitter.com/nWgicFNrJZ
— RNZ (@radionz) March 22, 2019
