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This New Zealand Woman's Weekly magazine was a special issue of the magazine in the aftermath of the Christchurch terror attacks of 15 March 2019. On that day, the Masjid Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Islamic Centre were attacked by a heavily armed white supremacist during Friday prayer, who killed 51 people and wounded 40 more (the last victim died in Christchurch Hospital on 2 May). The victims ranged from three years old to 78.
There was an instant outpouring of grief and outrage throughout New Zealand and around the world, with online and print media publishing detailed accounts and analysis.
The cover image shows Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern hugging Wellingtonian Naima Abdi when she visited the Wellington Islamic Centre and mosque in Lyall Bay, Wellington, on Sunday 17 March. Ardern wore a hijab / headscarf that day and when she met with Muslim leaders and communities, victims' families, and the wounded in hospital. Her wearing of the headscarf was greatly admired and appreciated by Muslim communities both here and overseas. It also generated debate from other perspectives, for and against, particularly when many women throughout New Zealand wore headscarves in solidarity on 22 March 2019 ('Headscarf for Harmony'). Ardern's visit and conduct immediately instilled confidence in the community.
The image was taken by local photographer Hagen Hopkins for Getty Images. He was very careful to be respectful as Ardern moved through the crowd and embraced people, and was able to take this defining image of Ardern's empathy and leadership. Hopkins 'knew it was a strong image straight away, because it "told a story in a really simple way"' (Dominion Post, 8 June 2019, p. A10). His image was quickly shared around the world, and was unexpectedly beamed onto the side of the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, an 829-metre-tall skyscraper in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, along with the Arabic word 'salam' with its English translation 'peace'. Sheikh Mohammed, the prime minister and vice-president of the United Arab Emirates, and ruler of Dubai, tweeted this image with a message of support and thanks for New Zealand: 'New Zealand today fell silent in honour of the mosque attacks' martyrs. Thank you PM Jacinda Ardern and New Zealand for your sincere empathy and support that has won the respect of 1.5 billion Muslims after the terrorist attack that shook the Muslim community around the world' (https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-shooting/111503420/worlds-tallest-building-lit-up-with-image-of-jacinda-ardern).
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