Shimul Islam says the aroha from the Hawke's Bay community towards him over the past week has been immense. Photo / Paul Taylor
Shimul Islam says the aroha from the Hawke's Bay community towards him over the past week has been immense. Photo / Paul Taylor
Hawke's Bay Muslims say the man allegedly responsible for the Christchurch attacks has not caused the hate or terror he wanted to - instead, he's brought people in the region closer together.
Shimul Islam, 23, has lived in Hawke's Bay since he was a child and calls New Zealand home.
Currently working at the head office at Cafe Anatolia he's also studying towards an accountancy major at EIT.
"Post-attack, waking up the morning after it just felt different," Islam said.
"I've never experienced anything like this before, but it did bring something to me.
"These horrible things are happening across the world as well and to have it happen here at home, it hits you quite hard and makes you realise 'why should I not think or feel the same when something like this happens somewhere else'."
Islam said the overwhelming support from the Hawke's Bay community had not gone unnoticed.
Fiza Nadeem and Mohammed Riaaz Nadeem, owners of the Kennedy Road Dairy, closed their shop for half an hour to honour the Muslims killed in the recent attack in Christchurch. Photo / Warren Buckland
"I still remember the second day after the attack, me and a few mates went down to the mosque and the amount of people coming by to talk to us and console us - letting us know that this is not what New Zealand is about - was really nice.
"We know that not everyone shares negative views, just a minority of people that are just lost."
Fear to go to prayer was supposed to be one of many outcomes from the attacks, but Islam said it's done the opposite.
"Something like this is not going to stop anyone, no one is going to be scared as such to go back to the mosque, people are going to be a bit wary and sad, but at the end of the day you've just got to go.
"The response I've seen from the younger non-Muslim community is, for example, friends I've not spoken to for years - since primary school - calling in asking me if I'm all good, if I need anything which has been amazing."
Islam said since the attacks, both communities had encouraged one another to learn a more about not only the Muslim faith, but many others that New Zealanders hold close to their hearts.
He hoped the dialogue would continue into the coming months and years.
"There are no secret agendas - if people just want to come up to the mosque and find out things they don't know then they can, and we want Muslims to do the same - go to a church, a synagogue, a temple and find out things you don't know, just get to know people.
"This guy has tried to divide and separate everyone, but after what he's done he's done quite the opposite."
Hastings woman Jameela Hawkins said the Māori Muslim community was overwhelmed by the displays of aroha and manaakitanga exhibited by so many people nationwide.
"It makes me proud to be from a beautiful country like New Zealand. Kia Kaha Aotearoa."
She attended Friday prayers and participated in the Hikoi of Unity march in Albert Square, Hastings.
Napier's Kennedy Rd Dairy Shop owner Fiza Nadeem's husband Mohammed knew Musa Vali Suleman Patel, 60, a victim of the mosque shootings, from when they attended the same mosque in Fiji.
"There's a lot of support, people have come and given us flowers. That's what's good about New Zealand."
