Saudi king hosts 200 from Christchurch shootings for Haj
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Aya Al-Umari says she feels like her brother will be accompanying her and will constantly be in her prayers when she travels to Makkah next month to take part in the annual Haj pilgrimage.
Al-Umari is one of 200 relatives and survivors from the Christchurch mosque shootings who are travelling to Saudi Arabia as guests of King Salman.
The Saudi ambassador to New Zealand on Friday said farewell to the pilgrims at the Al Noor mosque, one of two mosques where a gunman killed 51 people in March.
Al-Umari's 35-year-old brother Hussein was among those killed.
She said it's an honour that King Salman is sponsoring the trips, a fact reinforced in her visa documents stating she's travelling as a guest of the custodian of the two holy mosques.
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On DawnNews
Comments (8) Closed
Jul 26, 2019 02:28pm
A great gesture.
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Jul 26, 2019 02:31pm
Good news
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Jul 26, 2019 02:44pm
Thank you, KIng Salman.
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Jul 26, 2019 04:18pm
Great gesture and generosity shown by the Saudi King Salman to host 200 people affected by the barbaric Christchurch, New Zealand Mosque shooting of last year at the upcoming Haj, the annual Muslim pilgrimage to the Holy city of Makkah, followed by 2019 Eid-al-Adha celebrations.
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Jul 26, 2019 05:34pm
Very very noble gesture...
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Jul 26, 2019 06:43pm
It is a great initiative by king Salman. World most holy place care taker should give maximum priority to middle East peace. he is really an honest and kind king.
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Jul 26, 2019 08:27pm
then y not allow qataris fr haj n umrah
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Jul 26, 2019 10:21pm
Next year, king will be hosting 1000 US troops as the latest security agreement!
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