Worshippers on Saturday returned to the Al Noor mosque in Christchurch, one of the two mosques where a terrorist massacred 50 people on March 15.
In a hugely symbolic moment for the mosque’s members and theMuslim community, small groups of people were allowed back into the building topray and pay their respects to the 42 people that lost their lives, The NewZealand Herald reported.
Police handed the mosque back to the community and removed asecurity cordon just after midday.
The second mosque in Linwood Avenue remains closed.
Fresh white paint was still drying on the walls. The carpethad been ripped out and had not yet been replaced. A few rooms remained locked.
Bullet holes had been plastered over and erased. Brokenwindows had been replaced and painted over with an intricate design. Outside,new roses have been planted.
Two men kneeled and prayed on the right hand side of themosque’s main room. Four women prayed on the left.
As the Al Noor mosque reopened, some 3,000 people walkedthrough Christchurch on Saturday for a ‘march for love’ intended to honourvictims, the BBC said.
Many walked in silence and some carried placards calling forpeace and opposing racism.
Aden Diriye, who lost his three-year-old son in the attack,returned to the Al-Noor mosque on Saturday.
“I am very happy,” he said after praying. ” Iwas back as soon as we rebuilt, to pray.”
Australian Brenton Tarrant, a 28-year-old self-proclaimedwhite supremacist, has been charged with one murder in connection with theattacks and he is expected to face further charges.