51 Muslims massacred in Christchurch remembered
The New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies CEO Vic Alhadeff attended a moving and dignified ceremony was held in Sydney on Sunday night, March 15 – a year since the massacre at two Christchurch mosques.
New Zealand Consul-General Bill Dobbie; Imam Ibrahim Dadoun of the Australian National Imams Council; Paul McCarthy of the Australian National Maritime Museum; and Vic Alhadeff
51 members of the New Zealand Muslim community, including a three-year-old toddler, were slain and scores injured.
Organised by and hosted at the Australian National Maritime Museum, the Jewish community was represented at the ceremony by Vic Alhadeff, who last year led a crowdfunding operation for the families of those impacted by the massacre, and then flew to Christchurch to pay his respects at the two mosques.
Working with New Zealand Jewish Council president Stephen Goodman, he presented a cheque for $69,780.91 to Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel, who chairs the Christchurch Foundation, which is managing the funds. New Zealand Muslim leaders attended the presentation ceremony. The funds were contributed by members of the NSW Jewish community.
Alhadeff told participants at the anniversary ceremony: “Twelve months ago, the NSW Jewish community, along with all well-meaning people, was shocked to hear of the massacre of 51 people in Christchurch.
Jewish people understand full-well the impact of such atrocities. Tragically, we have stood in those shoes all too often. Today we stand with our Muslim friends and colleagues in condemning all bigotry and barbarity and in striving for respect for all in the name of diversity and humanity.”
The anniversary ceremony featured addresses by New Zealand Consul-General Bill Dobbie, Imam Ibrahim Dadoun and Ramia Abdo of the Australian National Imams Council and Paul McCarthy of the Australian National Maritime Museum, who chaired the event.
The ceremony concluded with the names of the 51 screened onto the roof of the museum, along with New Zealand’s emblem, the silver fern. Also in attendance were representatives of Multicultural NSW, Settlement Services International, the Affinity Intercultural Foundation and SBS.
