People gather at mosques across the world to condemn New Zealand shooting

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Rebecca Speare-Cole15 March 2019

People across the world have gathered to condemn the attack on two mosques in New Zealand which killed at least 49 people and injured dozens more.

Gunmen targeted worshippers in Christchurch during Friday prayer, inciting anger around the globe.

Hundreds of thousands came together in response to the mass shooting in countries like Pakistan, Australia, Bangladesh, France and the UK.

Muslim communities held up placards in Karachi with the words: “#NewZealandAttack: We condemn attack on mosque.”

New Zealand: Christchurch shootings - In pictures

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In Bangladesh, demonstrators shouted slogans outside the Baitul Mukkaram National Mosque in Dhaka.

Others protesting in Istanbul held up signs which read in Turkish “Say ‘Stop’ to Global Terror."

In London, Jeremy Corbyn paid a visit to Finsbury Park Mosque, whilst families gathered outside the New Zealand Embassy to show their support with the message: “#turntolove”

Speaking outside the East London Mosque, mayor Sadiq Khan said: “The best solidarity is showing that our diversity is a strength.”

He added: “We may be more than 11,000 miles away from Christchurch in New Zealand, but we feel the ripples of hatred, we feel the ripples of fear, we feel the ripples of sorrow for our brothers and sisters in Christchurch.

“It’s really important we demonstrate from London that as far as we are concerned our diversity is a strength not a weakness, we don’t simply tolerate it, we embrace it.

“It is the case thought that there are Muslims in London who will be feeling vulnerable, feeling scared, feeling frightened because they are Muslims.

“I want to reassure all Muslims and everyone going to a place of worship today and over the course of the next few days you will be seeing increased policing.

“It’s really important we as a city don’t allow this terrorist to cower us to change the way we lead our lives.

“The thoughts and prayers of every decent Londoner are with those in Christchurch in New Zealand who have lost their lives, we stand in solidarity with the people of Christchurch.”

The UK’s biggest mosque, the Baitul Futuh Mosque in south London, organised a silent prayer ceremony after the Friday player to pay tribute to the victims in New Zealand.

Worshipers pray outside the Great Mosque of Paris during the Friday Muslim prayer, in Paris.
EPA

Farhad Ahmed, a young Imam for the Ahmadiyya Muslim community told the Evening Standard: “Following the Friday prayers we are holding a silent prayer that we are doing for the victims and their families.

“The whole community is doing a short address to share our condolences with the victims.”

“We have to keep in mind that no matter what happens, one person’s action or a group of individuals’ actions, cannot divide a whole group of religious affiliations.

“What is quite important is that we use this to express our sympathy to these people and express our unity at this time.

“It has happened in New Zealand but we are all a global community. We are definitely living in a global village, we take their pain and speak out for the need for unity.

Mr Ahmed also expressed the importance of sharing peaceful messages during this time, and “highlighting the positivity in our community.”

“We can together find out more about each other and share positivity with one another.”

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