Wellingtons who have visited, cried, grieved and shared time with the city’s Muslim community over the past fortnight are being invited to come back to the mosque in Kilbirnie.

“Wellingtonians have come to be with us in our most painful times. We want people to return and be with us in the future, in our peaceful times. This is Wellington’s mosque now,” says Tahir Nawaz.

Mr Nawaz is the president of the International Muslim Association of New Zealand and he volunteers at the mosque. Throughout the past weeks he and others have spent their days hosting and welcoming Wellingtonians who have come to show their support and to pay their respects to the Muslim community after Christchurch’s tragic terrorist attack.

A long time proponent of peace, Mr Nawaz is also part of the Interfaith network. This photo shows himself and others from the Jewish, Christian, Hindu faith coming together in peace at a vigil to remember those slain in a terrorist attack in France several years ago.

“We are so pained to now hold vigils remembering those killed in terrorist attacks right here in our homeland of New Zealand. But here we are.”

“We are so strong as a nation right now. We cannot allow those from overseas to try to break us apart from each other. Kia kaha Aotearoa. Please let us hold each other tightly from now on.”

“You know. People who were scared to come to pray last week: saw our community standing outside and instead of scared, they feel safe. That was a powerful way to show the world what Wellington stands for: we stand up for each other.”

“I saw the elderly people on walking sticks, some people came straight from chemotherapy, kids from the schools, students from the university. We are one Wellington and I am so proud and so grateful to everyone.”

“Kia kaha Wellington. Thank you for standing by our families. We are so thankful for your aroha.”

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