AN APPEAL has been made to the rest of the world to help rid the planet of terrorists at a memorial service in Redditch to those killed in the school massacre in Pakistan.
Members of Redditch’s Pakistani community were joined by civic leaders to condemn the act of violence by Taliban militants which saw more than 140 people shot dead at an army school in the Peshawar region of the country, with 132 of them children.
Tanweer Dean, who organised the ceremony at the town’s main war memorial outside St Stephen’s Church, told those gathered: “I hope people can help us to find these people who are killing the world.
“I don’t know how those mothers who have lost children are going to survive this. To all the world I say please, please help us – we want a peaceful world.”
Speaking to the Standard Mrs Dean, whose sister’s family lost two children in the shooting, said the atrocity had hit the town’s Pakistani community hard.
“I never expected something like this would happen in Pakistan. There’s fighting all the time and many years ago there was an Islamic war and they killed men but not women and children but these people killed children. I don’t know how they can do that. I can’t describe them as human, they are beyond human.”
Flowers were laid during the ceremony and prayers said for those affected by the tragedy, with many there moved to tears.
Community leader Nasir Zamir said: “This is a barbaric act and they don’t represent Islam, this is not the way of Islam which is a religion of peace and a religion that preaches love.
“As a community we are deeply saddened by this and completely condemn such acts on any form of mankind.”
Mayor Pat Witherspoon said herself and council leader Bill Hartnett had already written to the high commissioner for Pakistan to extend the sympathies and support of the town to the people of Pakistan.
“I just want you to know we feel so much for your pain, we really do.”
Members of the community were visibly upset by the tragedy. Picture by Ian Dipple (s).
A memorial has been created to victims of the school shooting in Pakistan. Picture by Ian Dipple (s)
Flowers were laid during the ceremony. Picture by Ian Dipple (s).
Dignatries including the Mayor of Redditch Pat Witherspoon (third from the right) and Deputy Mayor Pattie Hill (left) attended the service (s).
