Pacific Media Centre Newsdesk
The massive gathering in Christchurch’s Hagley Park has reassured and uplifted their shocked community, say New Zealand Muslim leaders.
About 20,000 people gathered in Hagley Park to observe two minutes of silence and the Muslim call to prayer on Friday along with thousands more at other events across the country, including Auckland’s Domain.
Pacific Media Centre photographer Del Abcede was on hand to capture these images at Ponsonby’s Al-Masjid Al-Jamie mosque and Aotea Square on a day when women across New Zealand of all faiths reclaimed the hijab. More photos can be seen on her Facebook page.
1. Praying for peace at Ponsonby Mosque. Image: Del Abcede/PMC
2. The crowd at Ponsonby Mosque. Image: Del Abcede/PMC
3. Tongan flag and flowers at the Ponsonby Mosque. Image: Del Abcede/PMC
4. Samoan flag and flowers at the Ponsonby Mosque. Image: Del Abcede/PMC
5. Flowers and messages at the Ponsonby Mosque. Image: Del Abcede/PMC
6. Hijab power at Ponsonby Mosque. Image: Del Abcede/PMC
7. Hijab power at Ponsonby Mosque. Image: Del Abcede/PMC
8. Hijab power at Ponsonby Mosque. Inage: Del Abcede/PMC
9. Hijab power at Ponsonby Mosque. Image: Del Abcede/PMC
10. Hijab power at Ponsonby Mosque. Image: Del Abcede/PMC
11. Policeman and hijab at Ponsonby Mosque. Image: Del Abcede/PMC
12. Priest and hijab at Ponsonby Mosque. Image: Del Abcede/PMC
13. The Ponsonby Mosque crowd. Image: Del Abcede/PMC
14. Hijabs and Ponsonby’s Sacred Heart Church in the background. Image: Del Abcede/PMC
`15. Gang member paying his respects at Ponsonby Mosque. Image: Del Abcede/PMC
16. Thanks to New Zealand from the Muslim community at Ponsonby Mosque. Image: Del Abcede/PMC
17. Child and the mourning flowers at Ponsonby Mosque. Image: Del Abcede/PMC
18. Flowers and messages at Ponsonby Mosque. Image: Del Abcede/PMC
19. “Love and support” at Ponsonby Mosque. Image: Del Abcede/PMC
20. “Free hugs and free scarves” Aotea messages. Image: Del Abcede/PMC
21. Flowers beside the statue of former mayor Sir Dove-Myer Robinson in Aotea Square. Image: Del Abcede/PMC
22. Police and the hijab in Aotea Square, Auckland. Image: Del Abcede/PMC
23. Hijabs in Aotea Square. Image: Del Abcede/PMC
24. “The most merciful person is the one who forgives when he is able to take revenge.” – Imam Ali Image: Del Abcede/PMC
Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz
