At least three vigils are planned in the GTA on Friday to remember the victims of the horrific mass shootings at two mosques in New Zealand killing at least 49 people.The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama`at Canada at 10610 Jane St. in York Region is hosting a special prayer vigil at its Friday afternoon service at 1:15 p.m. In downtown Toronto, TorontoMuslims.com is one of a number of groups hosting a vigil at Nathan Phillips Square on Friday at 6:30 p.m. By 1 p.m., more than 400 people had indicated they would attend on the Facebook event page. The University of Toronto Scarborough’s student union is hosting support space and a vigil on Friday starting at 1:30 p.m. where they will “light 49 candles to honour the lives taken.”City Hall’s Toronto sign will be dimmed “to mourn the victims of the vicious terror attack in #Christchurch,” Mayor John Tory tweeted.News of the horrific events overseas did not dissuade Muslims in downtown Toronto from visiting various area mosques for prayer.At Masjid Omar Bin Khatab on Parliament St., things were calm and fairly routine, as worshippers came and went, keeping with the Muslim obligation of praying five times per day.Inside the modest prayer hall, Abdulah Nur, 56, was busy tidying up in preparation for the hundreds of people he anticipated to flock to the mosque throughout the day. Nuri said he’s resigned to the fact that the world is becoming a more divisive place, where differing ideologies can spark senseless acts of violence.Though saddened by what transpired overseas, he felt safe attending prayers and performing his duties at his mosque.“I’m not scared, because we should not have fear about what’s going on,” he said. “First, I show love. When this happens our faith increase.”At the Madinah Masjid Mosque, on Danforth Ave., Perwaiz Qureshi, 55, was reading the Qur’an in a corner of the grand prayer hall.“This is my faith and I have to come o ...
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