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Eugene Comes Together In Support Of Muslim Community After New Zealand Attacks

Melorie Begay

In the wake of terrorist attacks in New Zealand, where at least 1 gunman targeted 2 mosques and killed at least 49 people, over a hundred Eugenians joined the local Muslim community in offering condolences and support to victims.

Credit Melorie Begay
Zacharia Gliza says he regularly attends service at the center and today he felt supported by the Eugene community.

Community members of all faiths and backgrounds stood outside the Eugene Islamic Center in an act of solidarity while worshipers like young Zacharia Gliza, did their Friday prayer.

GLIZA: “It made me feel that we’re not alone in this, that you know they’re giving us support.”

After the regular service, people outside were invited inside for a prayer led by Muhyiddin Sultan for those in New Zealand.

Credit Melorie Begay/KLCC News
Muhyddin Sultan is a student at Lane Community College and leads prayers at the Eugene Islamic Center. Sultan says he was shocked by the events in New Zealand.

SULTAN: “I can’t even describe this kind of action in a language or words, but I think it’s terrifying and scary, but we will not be in fear.”

Sultan says this is a test for humanity to take action and that Muslims are stereotyped as terrorists, but really the vast majority want peace.

Melorie Begay is a multimedia journalist for KLCC News. She was the Inaugural KLCC Public Radio Foundation Journalism Fellow. She has a bachelors in Multimedia Journalism from the University of New Mexico. She previously interned at KUNM public radio in Albuquerque, NM and served as a fellow for the online news publication New Mexico In Depth.