Toowoomba’s Garden City Mosque marks anniversary of 2019 Christchurch shootings which killed more than 50 people

Monday marked two years since more than 50 people lost their lives at two Christchurch mosques. Now the Toowoomba community has marked the occasion for a special service.

The head of Toowoomba’s Islamic community has praised the level of involvement from many different faiths and cultures at a special service to commemorate two years since the Christchurch mosque shootings occurred.

Islamic Society of Toowoomba founding president and University of Southern Queensland Professor Shahjahan Kahn spoke at the vigil on Monday night, which remembered the 51 people murdered and 40 injured while attending prayer services at two mosques on March 15, 2019.

Professor Shahjahan Khan addresses the gathering as the Islamic Society of Toowoomba host an open service in commemoration of the Christchurch mosque shootings, Monday, March 15, 2021. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Prof Khan said the service was important to remind both Toowoomba and Australia what kind of society it wanted to encourage.

“The people who were murdered were innocent people who were there to worship — they came to worship God, and it was tragic what happened,” he said.

Kabir Ahmad and son Ihtiram Ahmed listen to speakers as the Islamic Society of Toowoomba host an open service in commemoration of the Christchurch mosque shootings, Monday, March 15, 2021. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“This doesn’t happen just by chance – there has been preparation before something like this.

“The community leaders, the national leaders and intellectuals should work together to educate people properly.

“Regardless of the people’s religion, we should try and create a society where this kind of behaviour is not encouraged.”

Toowoomba Mosque Imam Abdul Kader speaking as the Islamic Society of Toowoomba host an open service in commemoration of the Christchurch mosque shootings, Monday, March 15, 2021. Picture: Kevin Farmer