“And continue moving forward to save lives.”
“This country is the best in the world,” he added.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited the Syrian-born hero at St George Hospital in Sydney, commending him as “the best of our nation.”
On Friday morning, hundreds gathered at Bondi Beach for a paddle-out ceremony, honoring the victims.
He encouraged Australians to remember that “you can’t combat hate with hate” in the coming weeks.
“Many people are not taking care of themselves, as they are overwhelmed with grief,” he remarked.
“Because a lot of people are sort of not looking after themselves because they’re going through all that grief.”
Amar Singh is president of Turbans 4 Australia, a Sikh-led charity organisation. Source: SBS News / Phoebe Deas
Singh — who founded the group in 2015 to promote multiculturalism and religious tolerance after facing discriminatory comments about his appearance — said he felt it was everyone’s responsibility to “show solidarity with our wonderful Jewish community” in the wake of the antisemitic violence.
“But also to take a stance against this terrorist to say: ‘This is not on. This is my country, my beach, my city. You’re not allowed to do this and we will not be putting up with this’.”
Police believe Naveed and Sajid Akram, the father and son accused of carrying out the terrorist attack, were motivated by the ideology of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) group. The older Akram was shot dead by police.
“One thing has become clear — it is no longer possible to make outwardly, publicly, proudly Jewish places and events safe in Australia,” a notice in Avner’s bakery window read.
Gurmeet Tuli, president of Little India Australia, told SBS Hindi it’s important to let Australia’s Jewish community know that there are millions of Australians standing with them.
