As I conclude I acknowledge there are many stories that will have struck all of us since the 15th of March.
One I wish to mention, is that of Hati Mohemmed Daoud Nabi.
He was the 71-year-old man who opened the door at the Al-Noor mosque and uttered the words ‘Hello brother, welcome’. His final words.
Of course he had no idea of the hate that sat behind the door, but his welcome tells us so much – that he was a member of a faith that welcomed all its members, that showed openness, and care.
I have said many times, we are a nation of 200 ethnicities, 160 languages. We open our doors to others and say welcome. And the only thing that must change after the events of Friday is that this same door must close on all of those who espouse hate and fear.
Yes the person who committed these acts was not from here. He was not raised here. He did not find his ideology here, but that is not to say that those very same views do not live here.
I know that as a nation, we wish to provide every comfort we can to our Muslim community in this darkest of times. And we are. The mountain of flowers around the country that lie at the doors of mosques, the spontaneous song outside the gates. These are ways of expressing an outpouring of love and empathy. But we wish to do more.
We wish for every member of our communities to also feel safe.
Safety means being free from the fear of violence.
But it also means being free from the fear of those sentiments of racism and hate, that create a place where violence can flourish.
And every single one of us has the power to change that.
On Friday it will be a week since the attack.
Members of the Muslim community will gather for worship on that day.
Let us acknowledge their grief as they do.
Let’s support them as they gather again for worship.
We are one, they are us.
Tatau tatau
Al salam Alaikum
Weh Rahmat Allah
Weh Barakaatuh