Source: Al Jazeerah
Outpouring of solidarity includes crowdfunding millions of dollars, donating halal food and help in digging of graves.
![The Givealittle crowdfunding campaign received more than 40,000 donations by Saturday [Screen-grab/Al Jazeera]](https://i0.wp.com/www.aljazeera.com/mritems/imagecache/mbdxxlarge/mritems/Images/2019/3/16/8d88c0f43a8b433e8d5d1f15a7815b4b_18.jpg?w=667&ssl=1 "New Zealand mosque attacks prompt flood of support for Muslims")
New Zealanders have responded to the Christchurch mosque massacres with an outpouring of interfaith solidarity – crowdfunding millions of dollars, donating halal food and even offering to accompany local Muslims now scared to walk the streets.
The killing of 49 people at two mosques in this usually placid city on Friday has sent shockwaves rippling across the Pacific Island country that on average sees no more than 50 murders a year.
But revulsion at the bloodshed and the self-declared perpetrator’s racist motives has been matched by displays of support and warmth towards the country’s devastated Muslim communities.
In a suburb of Christchurch close to where the attacks took place, Yoti Ioannou and his wife put out a Facebook post calling for locals to donate halal food.
Their idea was to provide meals for the dozens of desperate relatives waiting at the city’s hospitals for news of their loved ones as surgeons battled to save lives.
The halal food drive was inundated, they said, with people lining up to give meals throughout Saturday.
“We’re just really humbled and happy to help,” Ioannou told AFP news agency. “We’ll be working on a way to keep things consistent with support for the families.”
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| Flowers and signs at a memorial as tributes to victims of the mosque attacks near Linwood mosque in Christchurch [Edgar Su/Reuters] |
He said so much food was donated that they eventually had to put a fresh call out saying no more was needed.
“The people of Christchurch, we’re used to rallying,” Iannou said, referencing the 2011 earthquake that killed more than 180 people.
“It’s just second nature to us now and I’m pleased they came out in force today.”
The Sikh community in Christchurch offered help in washing the bodies of the victims and digging the graves.
‘I’ll walk with you’
Across the country, New Zealanders also dug deep – the two most prominent crowdfunding campaigns had already raised between them more than 3.2 million New Zealand dollars ($ 2.2m) within 24 hours of the shootings.
Local crowdfunding platform Givealittle crashed briefly on Saturday, while LaunchGood had over 23,000 donors saying they were “United for Christchurch” as they contributed for the New Zealand Islamic Information Centre.
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Categories: Arab World, Australia, Collection of articles, Europe and Australia, Interfaith tolerance
May Allah reward all those generous donors, whether they gave cash or just kind words
This is a good lesson from God for us as Muslim who live in Christian countrirs. what bad thing fallen to us with God’s permission. I would like to urge all Islamic scholars please to do not say “ Kafir” to non Muslim.
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It is not wise to say the word of Khafir or invidel to them. The word of Khafir was used to those who attacked Prophet Muhammad 15 centuries ago. Thank you
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I live in America, i have been reading the tragic killing of 50 Muslims in Christchurch may they be granted paradise.
‘I am overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of The people oF New Zealand.
God bless everyone .
This is a great example of how peace can be made despite the religious differences between people. May the poor souls that lost their lives Rest In Peace and May Allah grant blessings for all these donators and people who support the cause.