Muslim World League chief visits site of Christchurch mosque attack

[Feroze]

Muslim World League chief visits site of Christchurch mosque attack​

Sheikh Mohammed Al-Issa (right), secretary-general of the Muslim World League, met survivors of the attack and families of the victims. (MWL)
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Updated 20 July 2026 23:25
Arab News
July 20, 202623:10






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• Saudi scholar Sheikh Mohammed Al-Issa meets survivors of 2019 mass shooting and affirms league’s commitment to combating hateful ideologies worldwide
• Officials at Al-Noor Mosque highlight need for reconstruction because of significant growth in numbers of Muslim worshippers

LONDON: Sheikh Mohammed Al-Issa, secretary-general of the Muslim World League, on Monday visited Al-Noor Mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, which was the scene of a deadly mass shooting during Friday prayers on March 15, 2019.

It was one of two facilities, the other being nearby Linwood Islamic Center, that were targeted by the same gunman in attacks that killed 51 people in total.

Al-Issa, who also chairs the Organization of Muslim Scholars, met survivors of the attack and families of the victims. He affirmed the league’s commitment to efforts to combat hateful ideologies worldwide, and to the promotion of the values of tolerance, coexistence and social cohesion.

Officials at the mosque highlighted the need for reconstruction work because of significant growth in the numbers of Muslim worshippers, and for a lecture and dialogue hall. Al-Issa promised to help meet these requirements after necessary legal procedures are completed, according to an official statement.

The previous day, Al-Issa visited the first phase of an Islamic Center that is under development in Auckland and took part in a ceremony to plant an “Olive Tree of Peace” at the site.

Also on Sunday he visited Jamia Masjid Al-Mustaf, the largest mosque in New Zealand, where he met officials from the South Auckland Muslim Association, and students enrolled in the mosque’s Holy Qur’an memorization program. He also met senior members the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand.

On Friday, Al-Issa officially opened Al-Rahman Mosque in Auckland and delivered its first sermon.

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2651671/saudi-arabia

 

[ST1976]

In recent months, a series of targeted attacks, shootings, and vandalism incidents have occurred at Hindu temples across the United States.
Notable incidents include: [1, 2, 3]

• Greenwood, Indiana (Aug 2025): The BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir was vandalized with anti-India graffiti.
• • Spanish Fork, Utah (Jun 2025): The ISKCON Shri Shri Radha Krishna Temple was struck by gunfire at least three times, with 20 to 30 bullets damaging the exterior walls and main hall.
  • Chino Hills, California (Mar 2025): The BAPS temple was defaced with anti-India messages.
  • Sacramento and New York (late 2024): Similar vandalism and hate messages were spray-painted on other BAPS temples. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]

Advocacy groups like the Hindu American Foundation and the Coalition of Hindus of North America have characterized these events as targeted hate crimes. The Indian government and local US lawmakers have formally requested robust investigations and increased security at places of worship. [1, 2, 3]

https://www.google.com/search?q=attack+on+hindu+temple+in+USA&oq=attack+on+hindu+temple+in+USA&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQABjvBTIHCAIQABjvBdIBCjIzMjM3ajBqMTWoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&source=chrome.rb&ie=UTF-8