24/11/2020
Reading Husna’s story, an account of Farid Ahmed and his wife Husna. Both from Bangladesh, they were caught up in the Masjid al-Noor mosque when the 28-year-old Australian terrorist opened fire on March 15, 2019. 51 people, mostly at prayer, were murdered that day at Masjid al-Noor and another Christchurch mosque. Many were injured. Farid, a paraplegic in a wheelchair, survived. His treasured Husna did not. Their daughter, Shifa, was at school. It is a compelling, albeit harrowing read. Some of the story is, indeed, appalling, particularly the aftermath of the al-Noor shooting. But it is also a story of courage and a willingness to forgive. What wonderful people. 'They are us,' our Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, famously said. I will need to track down Farid Ahmed and invite him to ring the New Zealand World Peace Bell. Commemorating the March 15, 2019 Christchurch mosques massacre is one of our official events.