Peace Week

Remembering Christchurch, March 2019. Remember them by doing good.

About Peace Week

Monday 11 - Friday 15 March 2024 marked the University of Auckland’s fifth annual Peace Week. This year's panel discussions centred around the themes of justice and courage. Shahela Quereshi, who is the Muslim Chaplain at Maclaurin Chaplaincy, below shares both her thoughts and the reflections of the audience members who attended the panel discussions over the course of the week.

This year’s Peace Week resonated with profound significance, marking not only the 5th anniversary of the Christchurch Mosque attacks but also coinciding with March 15th falling on a Friday—the same weekday of the tragic events that claimed 51 lives and left 40 injured during Jumma prayers.

The week was punctuated with various events, inaugurated by a panel discussion that delved into the themes of justice and courage. The dialogue opened up numerous topics, with a pivotal focus on recognising the Christchurch atrocity not as an isolated incident but as part of a broader global narrative.

We have been fortunate to receive some moving and insightful feedback from members of the audience.

Ankita Askar (Campus Card Team Lead and volunteer Membership Coordinator of the Muslim Staff Network)

"As Peace Week commemorated the fifth anniversary of the Christchurch Mosque terrorist attacks, it is essential to pause and reflect on the impact this tragic event had on our lives, our communities, and our nation. The attack, which shook our peaceful New Zealand, also brought to light the hidden Islamophobia that Muslims in NZ have silently endured for far too long.

As a Hijabi Muslimah (wearing the Islamic head covering) in NZ, I have encountered several incidents of islamophobia in public, even after the Christchurch attack. Just last year in 2023, as I walked along Queen Street (CBD), a person yelled, 'Get out of my country, you terrorist!' in broad daylight, to which the crowd around me turned a blind eye. And more recently, in 2024, I was randomly approached by another individual in CBD who asked, 'Are you a terrorist?' and mockingly inquired, 'Do you know how to join Al Qaeda?' These incidents serve as a stark reminder that Islamophobia persists, five years after the terrorist attack. It underscores the urgent need to educate people about Islam and work tirelessly to eradicate hate and bigotry from our society. As we go about our daily lives, we must take a moment to reflect on that horrendous day and pay our respects to the martyrs, survivors, and their families. We stand with them in their grief and happiness as one nation.

I had the privilege of attending the launch event of Peace Week 2024 held at the University of Auckland. The collaborative efforts of the UoA Muslim Chaplin Shahela Qureshi, Muslim Students Association (MSA), the newly formed Muslim Staff Network (MSN), and Campus Life culminated in a thought-provoking panel discussion. Brilliant speakers Dr. Usman Afzali and Dr. Bilal Naser eloquently emphasized the importance of justice and courage in establishing peace. Their insights resonated deeply with me, reinforcing the notion that there can be no peace without justice. As we fast during this holy month of Ramadan, let us keep the oppressed, poor, sick, and needy in our prayers. May our collective efforts contribute to a more compassionate and informed society, where understanding prevails over ignorance and love triumphs over hate."

Dr. Naashia Mohamed (Senior Lecturer for the School of Curriculum and Pedagogy and Chair of the Muslim Staff Network)

"It was very heartening to see a great turn out for the event, with students, staff and community from a range of racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds coming together to commemorate the horrific events of 15 March and reflect on its root causes and lasting consequences. Raising awareness about Islamophobia and openly discussing the challenges faced by Muslims in New Zealand society is an important first step to removing barriers and creating spaces where every individual feels like they belong and matter."

Dr Janine Irvine (life writer, oral historian and research scholar)

"Dr Usman Afzali and Dr Bilal Naser, speakers at the launch of Peace Week 2024, grappled empathetically with questions of justice and courage from the point of view of their scholastic research and personal reflections. The content of their presentations, and response to questions answered promoted thought-provoking dialogue and conversation which flowed into the gathering after. The hall was abuzz with chatter, and we all departed with much to reflect upon."

Merita Muaulu Saili (AI Conversation Designer)

"I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I felt it was important to be there. Even though I’m not Muslim, the worry that something might go wrong was there. But as soon as I arrived at the panel discussion, the sight of security personnel gave me a sense of safety.

Listening to young people's stories about how the Christchurch Mosque terror attacks affected their lives really struck a chord with me. The fear I had was just a tiny glimpse into the daily reality they face. Leaving the event, I felt a newfound strength to stand in unity with those who need our support the most."

Aakifa Chida (graphic designer and design lecturer at AUT)

"The launch of Peace Week 2024 was an enlightening and enriching experience. The speakers were eloquent and engaging and the subjects they spoke about were incredibly relevant in light of remembering the Mosque shootings. I found it very motivating to know that ongoing research is being carried out in academia to uncover the depth behind the shootings - showing that it was not an isolated event that occurred in a vacuum to only be remembered on a particular day every year. The research initiatives that were shared in the Peace Week launch are the beginning of creating the change we want to see in the world, starting at home in Aotearoa."

In a world rife with turmoil—from the ongoing atrocities in Palestine to the unrest in Sudan and the conflict in Ukraine, to name just a few—Peace Week’s call for reflection and action is more urgent than ever. Amidst the looming threat of relaxed gun control laws and the persistent dangers posed by racism and bigotry here in Aotearoa, it’s imperative for our university community to fully embody the spirit of Peace Week. By doing so, we commit to fostering unity and eradicating ignorance and hatred, not just within our halls, but beyond them, throughout the year.

Below, Shahela Qureshi, Maclaurin Associate Chaplain (Muslim) reflects on the struggles of the community since the Christchurch Mosque attacks and why Peace Week was established.

Peace Week 2024. Size: 91.5 kB. Type: PDF.

Download this PDF file. Size: 91.5 kB.

Events

Panel Discussion

Date: Monday 11 March
Time: 6.30 - 8pm
Location: Lecture Theatre 109, General Library, City Campus

Join us for an evening to hear from esteemed academic speakers discuss the importance of justice and courage as key aspects of establishing peace. Speakers include Dr. Usma Afzaly (principal investigator of the Muslim Diversity Study) and Dr. Bilal Naser (Clinical Psychologist).

Save your spot