CHRISTCHURCH: Women in New Zealand are being urged to wear a scarf this coming Friday (March 22), to stand with the Muslim community in the country.
Anna Thomas, one of the organisers of the event - titled 'Scarves in Solidarity' - told Newshub NZ that the event was to "show Muslims in New Zealand they are not alone".
"I just thought, why don't we all wear a scarf on Friday, a week on from this tragedy, and walk alongside our Muslim sisters as a mark of respect," she reportedly said.
According to Thomas, Islamic Women's Council New Zealand is onboard with the idea.
"They're all really moved by the gesture, and it shows New Zealand is with us in our grief," said Nasreen Hannif, a member of the council.
Thomas urged women of all religions and races to come together on Friday to show that there is no room for racial abuse against women who wear the hijab.
"Women, especially those who wear the hijab, are fairly regularly fearful when they go out in the streets, and what a better way to show support and walk alongside them than to wear one," she said.
The terrorist attack, which claimed the lives of more than 50 people, shocked the world on Friday (Mar 15).
The attack was broadcast live on Facebook and quickly distributed to other platforms, prompting New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and others to rebuke the technology companies.
A group of state-run New Zealand investment funds with a combined NZ$90 billion (£46.52 billion) in assets, said they were putting their investment heft behind calls for Facebook, Google and Twitter to take action, following the livestreaming and sharing on social media of the attack.
"Never mention the perpetrator's name ... never remember him for what he did," said Ardern. - Star
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