More than 100 members of the community showed up at the Northland Islamic Centre to support the Muslim community. Photo/John Stone
More than 100 members of the community showed up at the Northland Islamic Centre to support the Muslim community. Photo/John Stone
Northlanders bowed their heads and fell silent at 1.32pm today to honour the 50 killed in the Christchurch mosque terror attacks last Friday.
Thousands of people across the region joined many thousands more across the whole country who fell silent to show their support for the Muslim community and to show that hatred will not win.
At the Northland Islamic Centre, in Whangārei, members of the region's Muslim community gathered for prayer and were supported by more than 100 non-Muslim members of the community.
Unable to fit inside the centre, most gathered outside.
Saeed Hoque performed the call to prayer before the two minutes of silence was held.
Imam Suhil Musa thanked everyone for coming. Photo/John Stone
Boards displaying a collection of cards and letters which had been sent to the centre were also set up outside.
They expressed messages of solidarity and love for the Muslim community.
At Whangārei's Anglican Church about 80 worshippers from various denominations gathered to mark the occasions. Many of the women wore headscarves in support.
Many also took off their shoes at he entrance to the church, as is the practice for prayers at mosques.
Rosemary Bastion speaks with Zuraidah Yusof and her son Mikail Hariy, 2, outside the Northland Islamic Centre. Photo/John Stone
Peter Minson, priest in charge of the church, said the service was to show solidarity and support for the Muslim community.
''We want to show support and love for our Muslim brothers and sisters. It's to show that we are together with them, that we are aware of their pain and we are aware of what they are going through,'' Minson said.
He said the abhorrent acts of last Friday were driven by hatred and were meant to divide the country.
Worshippers at Whangarei's Anglican Church stand in silence at 1.32pm today to honour the victims of the Christchurch mosque terror attacks. Photo/Mike Dinsdale
Instead it had had the opposite effect and showed that the alleged gunman's intentions would not succeed.
''This is about getting together for prayers and showing that New Zealand is not going to be divided and that this expression of solidarity will show that hate will never win and that love will never fail.''
Minson said next Friday Anglican Church members would host a joint service with members of the Muslim community.
A barefoot Peter Minson, priest in charge of the Anglican Church in Whangarei, leads worshippers in the two-minute's silence to honour Christchurch today. Photo/Mike Dinsdale
