Sheikh Mohamed calls New Zealand PM to condole over mosque attacks

Abu Dhabi - He condoled with the families of the victims and stressed UAE's solidarity with NZ.

By Staff Report

Published: Tue 19 Mar 2019, 12:15 PM

Last updated: Tue 19 Mar 2019, 6:19 PM

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, today held a telephone call with Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand, expressing his sincere condolences to the New Zealand government, its people, and the families of victims of the terrorist attack on two Christchurch mosques, which left scores of people dead and injured.
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During the call, Sheikh Mohamed expressed his heartfelt solace and prayed to Allah the Almighty to rest the departed souls in Paradise.

Sheikh Mohamed was briefed by Ardern on the repercussions of the terrorist attack. He stressed the UAE's full support and solidarity with New Zealand in the face of all forms of extremism and terrorism, and all measures taken to safeguard its security and stability and the safety of its citizens and residents.
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Sheikh Mohamed affirmed the urgent need to continue and intensify international efforts to combat hate speech and terrorism, which has no religion. He also stressed the need to confront all forms of violence and extremism, while promoting and disseminating the values of tolerance, coexistence, and peace among the peoples of the world.

For her part, Prime Minister Ardern expressed her sincere thanks and appreciation to Sheikh Mohamed for his sincere message of support for New Zealand, its people, and the families of the victims in this painful situation.

The two sides also affirmed the friendly relations between the UAE and New Zealand and the shared values of tolerance and coexistence between them.

In a phone call with New Zealand's Prime Minister, Mohamed bin Zayed offers his condolences to the families of Friday's terror attack victims, stresses his solidarity with the country & the importance of strengthening international cooperation against hate speech and terrorism.
- ???? ?? ???? (@MohamedBinZayed) March 19, 2019

The horrific tragedy claimed 50 lives, mostly immigrants and refugees from India, Pakistan and the Arab world.
Ardern vowed on Tuesday never to utter the name of the twin-mosque gunman as she opened a sombre session of parliament with an evocative "as salaam alaikum" message of peace to Muslims.
"He will face the full force of the law in New Zealand," Ardern promised grieving Kiwis, while promising that she would deprive the man who slaughtered 50 people in Christchurch of the publicity he craved.
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"He sought many things from his act of terror, but one was notoriety," she told assembled lawmakers of the 28-year-old Australian accused of the slaughter.
"That is why you will never hear me mention his name. He is a terrorist. He is a criminal. But he will, when I speak, be nameless."
(With inputs from Wam)