When Aymen Safi was on his way to Friday prayers in Malmö’s main mosque after the terrorist bombings in New Zealand, it was with mixed feelings.
” It worries me, because it happened in a place like this. Perhaps, one day, it is the last time I’m here, ” he says.
On the street outside the mosque controlled police cars on the way, but they were looking not for weapons, but controlled driving licence. The police officers on site did not directly connect its on-site presence to what has happened in New Zealand, but called it a traffic and nykterhetskontroll.
“But we are here, absolutely, there may be security enhancement as well,” said a police officer who wishes to remain anonymous.
it was not an option to stay at home because of the fear, despite the fact that he is shocked by the terror attack.
” I need to put my safety in the hands of god. Of course, I am afraid, but this is life, what can I do?
People began to move out from the Stockholm mosque on Södermalm in Stockholm after having participated in the Friday prayers. Outside stood a police officer and also a police car.
– In the day there was strengthening outside the mosque, ” says Mahmoud Khalfi, imam and director at the Stockholm mosque, TT.
He says he was shocked when he heard about what had happened.
” It’s a disaster and it is terrible. Religious sites and sacred places, they have a special place, you may never touch them neither in peacetime or in wartime. To spread this fear and scare people it is their message. But we should not give up, and all the forces of good must join together and condemn what has happened in New Zealand, ” says Mahmoud Khalfi.
in Friday prayers inside at the Stockholm mosque in Södermalm, stockholm. She is shocked by the terror attack and think of those affected.
– It is jättesorgligt. It is ordinary people who are at a place where they should be. This is something evil and something that no one should accept, it has affected both muslims and non-muslims, ” she says.
Zebeba Busyre, as she also was at Friday prayer, tells us that she became sad when she read the news on Friday morning. She is also shocked terrorattentatet in New Zealand.
“We do not know when the cycle will end but we have hope and we hope that it will get better,” she says.
Read more: Niklas Orrenius: the Ideas behind the church in Christchurch is also available here
Read more: the Claim that the attack was revenge for the Drottninggatan
