A human chain surrounded VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Masjid Al-Iman mosque Friday, a show of support for the Muslim community inside holding Friday prayer.
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In light of the recent mosque shootings in New Zealand, VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Sikh community invited Islanders to join them in forming a protective human chain B次元官网网址渁s a show of love and solidarity with our Muslim family and to remind everyone that bigotry will not be tolerated.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲e understand this communityB次元官网网址檚 pain. The same thing happened to us in 2012 in Wisconsin,B次元官网网址� said Boota Singh, a member of VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Sikh community. B次元官网网址淲e understand how you feel when you lose someone you love. ThatB次元官网网址檚 why we planned to do this human chain B次元官网网址� to show our support to the local Muslim community.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲e are really surprised that not only Sikhs but Christians, Jewish peopleB次元官网网址verybody is here. ItB次元官网网址檚 pretty impressive. We are so happy.B次元官网网址�
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Members of the public began to gather shortly before 1 p.m. when worshippers were arriving for prayer at Masjid Al-Iman on Quadra Street.
Community leaders, the chief of police and people of all ages and religions linked arms in solidarity and circled the mosque to ensure the local Muslim community could worship in safety. Emotion was high as worshippers passed into the mosque, and back out again two hours later.
A human chain is growing around VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Masjid Al-Iman mosque as a show of support for the Muslim community inside holding Friday prayer.
B次元官网网址� Keri Coles (@KeriColesPhotog)
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The mosqueB次元官网网址檚 imam, Ismail Mohamed Nur, addressed the crowd after worship.
B次元官网网址淲hen we were first initially told that people within the community wanted to come and show their support I had no idea that so many of you would actually show up,B次元官网网址� said Mohamed Nur. B次元官网网址淚t means a lot to our community. It is at difficult times that you really know who your friends are and it makes us really happy to see that we have so many friends here in Victoria.B次元官网网址�
Members of the mosque shared food and water with the crowd, taking time to connect with the hundreds who stood guard while they prayed.
B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 really important that we all stand together as a community when we are dealing with racism, Islamophobia, hatred,B次元官网网址� said Carole James, MLA for Victoria-Beacon Hill. B次元官网网址淚 think the fact that you are seeing so many people here today, joining together to say, B次元官网网址榃e stand with you. We wonB次元官网网址檛 allow it. We say no to racism. We say no to hatred.B次元官网网址� I think our community is showing that in a very important way.B次元官网网址�
keri.coles@blackpress.ca
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