Hundreds Form Human Chain Around Peterborough Mosque In Act Of Solidarity & Peace

In a symbolic act of protection for the Muslim community, hundreds of people formed a human chain around the mosque in Peterborough, Canada during prayer on Friday (March 22nd).

This comes one week to the day after a gunman opened fire on two mosques in New Zealand during Friday prayer, killing 50 people.

It was incredibly moving to see people there showing their support for the local Muslim association and those around the world.

Mayor Diane Therrien and MP Maryam Monsef (see pictures and video below) were both there to show their community support. “It’s important for me to be here with so many members of the community to show our love and solidarity with our Muslim community here in Peterborough,” Mayor Therrien tells PTBOCanada. “It speaks volumes about who we are as a community that we always come out to support each other when we need it.”

After the tragedy in New Zealand, Peterborough's Masjid Al-Salaam mosque—and others everywhere—are taking safety and security very seriously. The Peterborough Police Service service are keeping a close watch on the premises for protection.

Watch the footage below our video team captured…

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A Powerful Short Film Has Been Made About The Peterborough Mosque

Peterborough-based filmmaker Matthew Hayes has made a powerful short film, "The Masjid", about the aftermath of the Peterborough Mosque arson hate crime that occured November 14th, 2015.

The community support—both financial and emotional—was amazing, and the story went viral around the world about how the city came together to show solidarity with the mosque. To show how inclusive we really are.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau—who visited the mosque earlier this year—lamented the attack, but praised the community’s and country's reaction to it: $110,000 was crowdfunded for the mosque in less than two days.

This film conveys the story of what happened in subsequent months, and how the mosque in turn gave back to the community.

Watch it below...

November 14, 2015: arson at the only mosque in Peterborough. The hate crime, on the heels of the Paris terrorist attacks, became a national tragedy, putting the Masjid Al-Salaam in the spotlight. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau lamented the attack, but praised the community’s and nation’s reaction to it: $110,000 was crowdfunded for the mosque in less than two days. But this film also tells the story of what happened after the media lost interest: most of the money was donated back to the community. This is a story of everyday racism, and the shared values needed to overcome it.

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