One Muslim bride from Australia wanted to pay tribute to the victims of the Sydney siege — even if it meant changing her wedding day plans.
Manal Kassem took a detour from her celebrations on Saturday to pay her respects outside the Lindt Chocolate Cafe, where Man Haron Monis took the lives of two hostages last week.
Still wearing her flowing white dress, veil, and intricately decorated hijab, Kassem added her wedding bouquet to the memorial on Martin Place.
Seeing her touching tribute, the crowd broke into applause, The Australian reported.
According to her wedding planner, Kassem was considering canceling her wedding photoshoot.
“She was going to cancel [the photoshoot] because she didn’t want to be judged … celebrating her wedding in a scarf while people were terrorised,” wedding planner Dina Kheir told the Australian Associated Press. “But she made it her priority to visit the memorial site as the first pit stop.
“She did it out of respect for her country, that will one day be the country of her children and grandchildren,” Kheir added.
Categories: Europe and Australia