Hundreds gathered at Hobart’s Franklin Square in show of support
Tears were shed in a powerful show of support at a vigil in Hobart on Sunday night for the victims of NZ’s shocking mosque massacre. SEE THE FRANKLIN SQUARE VIGIL PHOTOS.
Tasmania
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TEARS were shed in a powerful show of support at a vigil in Hobart for the victims of the shocking mosque massacre.
Hundreds of Tasmanians gathered at Franklin Square to lay floral tributes and handwritten messages for the 50 people who were killed in Christchurch, and to stand in solidarity with Muslim Australians who said they felt afraid for their lives.
SEE OUR PHOTO GALLERY OF THE VIGIL HERE
Muslim Tasmanian Sazrina Rashid attended with her three children to show terrorists that “she is not afraid to go out and to show my support for all of the New Zealand victims”.
“We are just here to show peace. We are just as Australian as anyone else. When the attack first happened on Friday, we were so afraid to go out, even to go fishing. But after we saw how the people gave us flowers at the [Hobart] mosque, it was reassuring to us.”
Religious, political and community leaders including Governor Kate Warner and Premier Will Hodgman were among the hundreds who sat and stood quietly, many holding candles, flowers or handwritten placards with poignant messages during a minute’s silence and through the short but moving speeches that followed.
Imam Sabri Samson’s impromptu speech, in which he thanked Tasmanians for showing their support by laying flowers and messages at the Hobart mosque, brought tears to the eyes of some.
“Islam is a religion of peace,” he told the crowd. “The word Islam means peace. We are peaceful people, we are not terrorists, we are not murderers.”
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Multicultural Council of Tasmania chairman Waqas Durrani likewise spoke from the heart. “I as a Muslim feel anxious as well. It is a very sad and scary time to be a Muslim in today’s world, but to see such support is so reassuring. What we are saying here is we are all together and we are one.”
Premier Will Hodgman said Tasmanians could “well understand the trauma” New Zealanders are experiencing. “There’s nothing that can explain such a barbaric act of terrorism and little that can comfort those people, but Tasmanians send their thoughts and prayers,” he said
“Tasmania has sadly experienced a similar event and we will ensure that anything we can do to assist the people of New Zealand, we will do.”
penelope.mcleod@news.com.au
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