On March 15, 2019, a white supremacist gunned down in cold blood 51 innocent Muslim worshippers during Friday prayers in Christchurch, New Zealand, wounding another 89 – 40 of whom were injured by gunfire.
It was an unprovoked and cowardly act of terrorism, targeting a religious minority at their most vulnerable – heads were bowed to the ground in humble submission to God, taken as martyrs for their faith. They were innocent Muslims, living their lives on the other side of the world – mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters – yet bound by faith and forever cherished in Islam.
We remember all those affected by this tragedy and honour their memories. We ask Allah, The Almighty, to accept the martyrs into the highest ranks in Paradise, to heal the wounded, to ease the pain of their families and loved ones, and to protect all Muslims from oppression and violence. May their sacrifice never be forgotten, and may justice and peace prevail.
This tragedy stands as a stark reminder of the dangers of both casual and sustained demonisation and dehumanisation of communities, driven by Islamophobic and xenophobic rhetoric that has been allowed to take root in mainstream discourse. Such narratives fuel hatred, incite violence, and ultimately cost innocent lives.
