Amanda Gillies, the AM Show news anchor said that she agonized over whether to cover her hair with a peach-colored scarf.

TV news in New Zealand on March 22. #HeadScarfForHarmony pic.twitter.com/6hn3zW7g74

— World HijabDay (@WorldHijabDay) March 22, 2019

“There’s no way a week ago that I would have, because I would have thought it would have been deemed inappropriate, not right, that I was insulting the Muslim community,” Gillies said.

“I’ll be honest – I did angst over it today whether I should wear it, because I didn’t want to be inappropriate or offend the Muslim community. But I know that they are so welcoming and accepting of it, and I know that a lot of women will wear it today because it just shows that we are united – the solidarity is there, the love and support is there.”

Rafaela Stoakes, a 32-year-old mother of two, said wearing the Islamic head covering gave her an insight into what it means to stand out and feel part of the minority.

Female Police officers and non-Muslim volunteers who were directing the crowds near the mosque in Christchurch were all wearing headscarves. In fact, all of them wore if for the first time.

“It is amazing how different I felt for the short time I was out this morning,” Stoakes told AFP.

“There were a lot of confused looks and some slightly aggressive ones,” she said.

“I did feel a sense of pride to honour my Muslim friends, but I also felt very vulnerable and alone as I was the only person wearing one,” she added.

Kate Mills Workman, a 19-year-old student from Wellington, posted a selfie on Twitter wearing a green headscarf.

“If I could I would be attending the mosque and standing outside to show my support for my Muslim whanau (extended family in Maori language) but I’ve got lectures and I can’t really skip them,” she told media.

“Obviously this is all spurred on by the terrible tragedy in Christchurch, but it’s also a way of showing that any form of harassment or bigotry based on a symbol of religion is never okay,” she added.

“As New Zealanders, we have to make a really strong stand,” she enthused.

Friday’s memorial incident boosted motivation in the Muslim women of New Zealand to take pride in their Hijab, and a courage to stand against the odds, despite the Islamophobes continue to abhor them, but all regular citizens of New Zealand stand as an extended family to the Muslim women.

The Australian National Imams Council has called on Imams to dedicate this Friday’s Khutbah (sermon) to the Christchurch mosque terrorist attack.

“This is a human and an international tragedy, not only a Muslim and NZ tragedy. These acts of terror are there to divide us…and we reject this in all its forms and ways, but rather we will stay united and strong,” said PM Ardern.

“I cannot tell you how gutting it is… a family came here for safety and they should have been safe here,” she added.

She has declared a ban on semi-automatic and military-style rifles on Thursday, within six days of the massacre. Her prompt and proactive response to the terrorist attack has won global applause.

On the other hand, the bodies of victims from New Zealand’s mosques mass shooting were carried in open caskets on the shoulders of mourners into a large tent at Christchurch’s Memorial Park Cemetery on Wednesday — the first burials of the 50 victims.

The majority of the victims in the South Island city were migrants and refugees from countries like India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey, Somalia, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.

The youngest was a boy of three, born in New Zealand to Somali refugee parents, while the first two victims buried were a father and son Khaled and Hamza Mustafa, who came from war-torn Syria.

“Seeing the body lowered down, it was a very emotional time for me,” said Gulshad Ali, who had traveled from Auckland to attend the first funeral.

Male mourners were dressed in long thobes, Kurta-Payjama, while female mourners wore abaya, hijaabs, and scarfs.

Heavy Police protection was granted, who stood guarding the funerals with flowers in their revolver holsters and on their high powered rifles.

Al-Noor mosque has been cleaned and is repaired for the Friday prayers, while the Muslim community show resilience to return to the mosque.

The terrorist Brenton Tarrant was remanded without a plea and is due back in court on April 5, when police said he was likely to face more charges.

Global intelligence agencies from America, Australia, Canada and Britain are building up a profile of the terrorist Tarrant.

“I can assure you this is an absolute international investigation,” Police Commissioner Mike Bush said at a media briefing in the capital Wellington.

PM Ardern visited Cashmere High School earlier this week in Christchurch which lost two students in the attack, Sayyad Milne and Hamza Mustafa.

She addressed over 200 students at the school auditorium about racism and changes in gun laws. She urged students not to mention the terrorist’s name —“Never mention the perpetrator’s name … never remember him for what he did, rather focus on victims.” she said. — Reuters

Compare this with the leadership back home who find no time to even mention those killed in mob lynching.

Her words and pain are getting reflected and there is a concern in the western world about the growth of white supremacists but back home in India, we do not feel any concern about the rise and growth of the Brahmanical fascism which wants to maintain the hierarchical caste order and target the minorities directly.

“The Great Replacement” stated that “the invaders must be removed from European soil, regardless of where they came from or when they came. Roman, African, Indian, Turkish, Semitic or other. If they are not of our people but live in our lands, they must be removed.”
 
This is the statement by the white supremacist who along with others, killed innocent worshipers at different mosques in New Zealand on Friday. Those killed including older people as well as children who had gone to pray in the mosques.

The terror attack on these mosques in a relatively tiny and peaceful country reflects a major challenge for all people as to how Islamophobia is growing faster in relatively peaceful societies. If it was in the United States, Great Britain or France, it could be understood but when it reaches the peaceful shores of New Zealand it sends a warning signal, a new reality of today’s world; whether Islamophobia is growing silently in the Western world with an active role of media portrayal of the events that happened recently.
 
Several years back we witnessed such a mass shooting in Norway which shocked the peaceful Scandinavian nation but the New Zealand killings have sent shock waves across the world.
 
While there is an unequivocal condemnation of the incident, yet the western media still falls short of a categorical terminology for such a ghastly crime. ‘Suspect’, gunman, shooting are the terms used by the media. Now, this is a terrorist incident and the terrorist happens to be an Australian white man who hates immigrants.

It is tragic that the US President is not alarmed by the growth of white supremacists threatening the immigrants everywhere and how his own policies have contributed to it. After Trump’s elevation to power, the United States witnessed many hate crimes, particularly against African Americans. In India, the crime against minorities particularly Muslims grew with the active encouragement of the ruling party and its leaders who actually need Muslims for their votes through polarisation.
 
Amidst all this, the statement of the Prime Minister of New Zealand Ms Jacinda Ardern was a ray of hope. She not only assured that the nation would remain proud of its religious and ethnic diversity but also not allow their place to harbour any hatred. You can see how the police responded to the entire issue and people irrespective of their nationalities and ethnicities expressed shock and grief.
 
The text of her statement:
 
Our thoughts and our prayers are with those who have been impacted today. Christchurch was the home of these victims. For many, this may not have been the place they were born. In fact, for many, New Zealand was their choice.
 
The place they actively came to and committed themselves to. The place they were raising their families, where they were part of communities who they loved and who loved them. It was a place that many came to for its safety. A place where they were free to practice their culture and religion.
 
For those of you who are watching at home tonight, and questioning how this could have happened here, we — New Zealand — we were not a target because we are a safe harbour for those who hate. We were not chosen for this act of violence because we condone racism, because we are an enclave for extremism. We were chosen for the very fact that we are none of these things. Because we represent diversity, kindness, compassion, a home for those who share our values, refuge for those who need it. And those values, I can assure you, will not, and cannot, be shaken by this attack.
 
We are a proud nation of more than 200 ethnicities, 160 languages. And amongst that diversity, we share common values. And the one that we place the currency on right now — and tonight — is our compassion and support for the community of those directly affected by this tragedy.
 
And secondly, the strongest possible condemnation of the ideology of the people who did this.
 
You may have chosen us — but we utterly reject and condemn you.
 
Compare this with the leadership back home who find no time to even mention those killed in mob lynching. The Muslims and Christians in India have a history of several centuries as they came here around the seventh century. So, they are not immigrants but part and parcel of this soil. Many of those who were humiliated in the caste system embraced Islam and Christianity for their spiritual liberation but India’s right wing has not accepted them and wants to send them to Pakistan.
 
The New Zealand Prime minister addressed the press, assured minorities and immigrants saying that was their home and their country is proud of them. Her words and pain are getting reflected and there is a concern in the western world about the growth of white supremacists but back home in India, we do not feel any concern about the rise and growth of the Brahmanical fascism which wants to maintain the hierarchical caste order and target the minorities directly.
 
Isn’t it ironical that the Hindu Mahasabha celebrated the rise of Trump and his birthday in the hope that he will eliminate the Muslims? A few days back, they celebrated the birthday of Queen Elizabeth while abusing Gandhi and re-enacting his assassination. We did not outrage or hold the government and its machinery accountable. Many see the rise of trump as anti-Islamic but if they see the neo-fascist growth in Europe, they hate everyone, the blacks, the Romas and the immigrants which include Hindus and Muslims both.
 
The Christchurch incident is a reminder of the dangers of majoritarianism which is bound to create further polarisation. Politically it may suit some right-wing groups including India but in long term, it will defeat democratic polity if we are unable to contain such hatred constitutionally and legally.

It is time for stronger international mechanism against such forces which get legitimacy through the democratic process and winning elections. The world needs to unite and find ways and means to defeat such forces ideologically, democratically as well as through well-built international mechanisms so that hatred does not become a tool to win elections.

Meanwhile, we stand in solidarity with all those who are peace builders and believe that this planet is meant for all of us irrespective of our gender, caste, region and nationalities and we all have to protect it.
 
Let us work harder to defeat hatred which is only possible through building bridges and respecting people’s right to choose their faith and life. States need to protect law-abiding citizens and stop mob mentality and kangaroo courts in TV studios. They need to be made accountable in the greater interest of democracy and human rights.

Article first published in SabrangIndia.