A beautiful gesture
The country of New Zealand and the city of Christchurch is currently in mourning after Friday’s mosque shootings which have left 50 people dead.
A host of politicians quickly condemned the attacks, which took place at the Al Noor mosque on Dean’s Road and the Linwood Islamic Centre on Linwood Avenue, with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stating that they “can now only be described as a terrorist attack”.
On Sunday, two days after the attack, New Zealand footballer Kostas Barbarouses was playing for Australian side Melbourne Victory when he opened the scoring for them in their match with Brisbane Roar.
Upon scoring the goal, the 29-year-old walked to the goal line, dropped to his knees and bowed his head, performing the Muslim prayer Sajdah out of respect for those who tragically lost their lives in the attack.
https://twitter.com/MuslimIQ/status/1107255335721598976
After the game, the striker cut an emotional figure as he discussed the events which had occurred on Friday.
“I’m pretty devastated to be honest. A pretty emotional day,” Barbarouses told Fox Sports.
“It doesn’t mean much to them (the goal celebration) but it’s something.”
On Saturday, New Zealand PM Ardern stated, in the aftermath of the most deadly shooting in the country’s history, that gun laws in New Zealand will change.
“While work is being done as to the chain of events that lead to both the holding of this gun license and the possession of these weapons, I can tell you one thing right now,” she said.
“Our gun laws will change.”
