A very special event took place at the Blacktown International Sports Park on Sunday, 28 April 2019 to pay tribute to those who lost their lives or were injured during the recent tragedies in Christchurch, New Zealand and Colombo in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka's Roman Catholic leader condemned the Easter attacks as "an insult to humanity" as the country marked a week since suicide bombers hit three churches and three luxury hotels.
Meanwhile, in New Zealand, the gunman behind the March 15 Christchurch attack in which 50 people were killed in two mosques, will face 50 murder charges and 39 attempted murder charges.
Source: Supplied/Ahmadiyya Muslim Association Australia
In his opening remarks, the Mayor of the Blacktown City Council and the state member of Blacktown Mr Stephen Bali said the event was not "simply about what has happened in the past month.
"As Australians, we need to hold our own actions to account. There is nothing to be scared by our diversity," he said.
A view of St. Sebastian's Church damaged in blast in Negombo, north of Colombo, Sri Lanka, Source: AAP
"We need to embrace, encourage and celebrate."
Federal Member of Chiefly, Hon Ed Husic MP said,
Source: Supplied/Ahmadiyya Muslim Association Australia
"The Mayor rightly pointed out today is as much about how we conduct ourselves tomorrow, beyond Christchurch and beyond Colombo. How we manage to bring ourselves together. We all have a part to play in the days ahead."
At the beginning of the program, Elder Julie Jones Welcomed to Country and Qari Abdul Shafiq from Gausia Mosque in Blacktown recited from the Holy Quran, with the translation was presented by Hafiz Ikram.
The President of the Islamic Association Western Suburbs Rooty Hill, Sydney, Mr Nasib Mohammed was the Master of the ceremony.
"On behalf of all of us present here today, I would like to convey sincere condolences and prayers to the victims, families in Christchurch and Colombo," he said.
"An act of violence, there is no place in the world."
Source: AAP
NSW State government representative, Hon Penny Sharpe MLC emphasised in her speech that we can extend our support and commitment to care for one another.
Along with them, there was also present Michelle Rowland MP Federal member for Greenway, Mr Kevin Conolly MP State Member for Riverstone, Assistant Commissioner Peter Thurtell, APM Commander of the South West Metropolitan Region.
Father Patrick from Parramatta Catholic Diocese said in his speech:
"We call upon all concerned to stop using religion to incite hatred, violence, extremism and blind fanaticism and to refrain from using the name of God to justify access, murder, exile, terrorism and oppression."
Reverend Graeme Marks from Blacktown Anglican Church pointed out that those atrocities were not purported by the people of faith but by the violent people call up by their own interest.
Source: Supplied/Ahmadiyya Muslim Association Australia
Maulana Shabir Ahmed from Quba Mosque Mount Druitt pointed out the peaceful teachings from the Holy Quran.
After the speech of Maori Warden Mr Rawiri, there was a Hakka presentation.
Mr Harmeet Singh from the Sikh Temple Glenwood said that "We are all children of one God."
Imam Imtiaz Ahmed Naveed from Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Australia highlighted the Islamic teaching on the love of the country of residence is part of the faith.
Vic Alhadeff from the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies told the gathering that his community has raised $71,000 for the Muslim Community in Christchurch.
Around 500 people attended the program which, in the interests of security, had not been widely publicised.
Source: Supplied/Ahmadiyya Muslim Association Australia
Mike Brown, one of the participants from the Initiatives of Change Australia said:
"As a fifth generation white Australian, I am proud to come to an event like today where people are from many ethnic and national backgrounds and coming together in grief and solidarity to recognise the injustice and the hatred that is damaged so many lives in Christchurch and Sri Lanka.
"And to say this is not the way, this is not what we want for Australia. We want something better than this and today is a demonstration about that."
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Source: Supplied/Ahmadiyya Muslim Association Australia
