New Zealand: The Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern marked the third anniversary of the terrorist attack against Muslim community in Christchurch Mosque.
She said I was looking back at some of the photos and news from that day and the anniversaries that have followed, and it struck me that the same messages ought to be repeated time and time again. On the first anniversary of March 15, the two Imams of the mosque that were attacked issued a simple request called the Christchurch Invitation.
They said: “Within the Muslim community we have spent much time discussing our shared world. Our deep wish is that the March 15 flood of support builds into something lasting; something that benefits everyone.
It doesn’t have to be with big gestures. It can be small – maybe one small, clear change.
• What help could I give to someone?
• Who needs me?
• Who can I stand up for?
Jacinda said, Last year we witnessed beautiful intentions and actions when people saw past labels and differences, saw other people as human beings, and came together after that dreadful shooting. This is an invitation to remember what we saw, to recognise that this was us, and to keep those intentions alive.”
As was the case in 2020, there is no memorial today, but we can each honour those lost on March 15 in our daily actions. It remains the least we owe them.
