Faizi off to NZ to bury friend

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A man places flowers at a memorial site for victims of the mosque shootings at the Botanic Gardens in Christchurch, New Zealand, March 18, 2019. REUTERS/Edgar Su

THE head of one of the country’s biggest Islamic religious organisations will head to New Zealand today to assist in the funeral rites of the late Peshawar Imam of the Fiji Muslim League’s Lautoka Jame Masjid, Hafiz Musa Patel.

Mr Patel was among the 50 who allegedly perished at the hands of Australian gunman Brenton Tarrant during a shooting rampage at the Al Noor mosque, Christchurch, last Friday.

Pesh Imam of the Maunatul Islam Association of Fiji, Alim Muhiyideen Shah Faizi spoke to this newspaper yesterday after finalising travel preparations to Auckland.

“It is an honour for me to be given the opportunity to bury my good friend, the late Hafiz Musa Patel,” said Mr Faizi.

“I do not go there alone. I take with me the sympathies of every Fijian and I will share this with his wife and children. Although Mr Patel came to Fiji in 1989, he very quickly assimilated into Fijian society and counted himself a Fijian at heart.

“Mr Patel will be missed because of his very warm personality and character — he was able to interact with people from all walks of life, regardless of race or religion. Even though I am the president of the Maunatul Islam Association, Mr Patel was my right hand man and the success of the association was due, in large part, to his efforts.”

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