CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Flowers lined the inside entrance of Charlottetown’s Masjid Dar As-Salam mosque this weekend as messages of sympathies trickled in following Thursday’s shooting massacre in New Zealand.
Members of P.E.I.’s Muslim community have rallied together since the attacks, which saw 50 people killed in two New Zealand mosques.
The Muslim Society of P.E.I. will hold a vigil in honour of the victims Saturday, March 23 at 11 a.m. at the Cenotaph in Charlottetown.
“Hatred will not overshadow love like darkness cannot overshadow light,” said society member Zain Esseghaier.
“Hatred will not overshadow love like darkness cannot overshadow light.”
- Zain Esseghaier
Alhadi Abusneena, president of the Muslim Society of P.E.I., said his heart was with the victims.
“Unfortunately, this (attack) is the result of the speech of hatred held against Islam in media,” he said. “May God have mercy on the souls of those worshippers who were in those mosques seeking a moment of security and peace.”
News of the tragedy travelled quickly in the early hours Friday morning.
It didn’t seem real at first for Esseghaier.
“Slowly things start sinking in and you realize a horrible thing has happened,” he said. “But they’re not going to make me fear anything. I’m not going to get angry. The next thing is what can I do to make things better and to counter hate with love and peace and then you take it from there.”
The Masjid Dar As-Salam mosque in Charlottetown has been subject to prejudice in the past with three instances of vandalism occurring shortly after it was built. In 2012, the mosque was vandalized twice before a third instance involving finding a bottle of gasoline with a hateful note attached led the mosque’s community to reach out to the media.
There were no more instances after that.
Esseghaier said racism and prejudice is everywhere and his fear would be a copycat.
“The concern right now here in P.E.I. and I suppose across North America is we hope that there will be no copycat and that people will stay safe,” he said.
Bouqets of flowers and cards have been sent to the Masjid Dar As-Salam mosque.
Members of other religious organizations, community leaders, and members of the public have reached out to the Muslim Society of P.E.I. to show support and offer sympathy.
“It’s very comforting to realize you’re not alone,” said Esseghaier. “It’s comforting to have allies and to have friends who are on the ready to give a hand and to support and comfort you.”
Since opening on P.E.I., Alhadi said the mosque has grown to serve more than 400 families.
Due to that growth, construction will begin this spring for a parking lot on a new 29,000-sq. foot land expansion behind the mosque. An open house will also be held at the mosque from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 27.
