IGGÖ President after Graz Rampage: "Children Who Should Never Have Been Killed"

On Friday noon, mourning students were joined in front of the BORG Dreierschützengasse in Graz by representatives of the Islamic Religious Community in Austria (IGGÖ) and Styrian Muslims to lay a wreath of chrysanthemums and white roses. Grief and pain do not seem to have diminished even on the third day after the attack by a former student who shot nine teenagers and a teacher. People embrace each other, letting tears flow freely.

The young people in front of the school in the Lend district make a statement by dressing brightly and casually, with many young women wearing colorful dresses and headscarves. They continuously lay flowers, light candles, or rekindle the flame of extinguished lights. A woman breaks into tears, another takes her in her arms and holds her.

Wreath Laying in Graz

Shortly before noon, about a dozen members of the IGGÖ, led by President Ümit Vural, and representatives of Styrian Muslims with Mehmet Celebi appear. A wreath of white chrysanthemums is laid at the school fence - a support pillar at the entrance bears the word Welcome in five languages. This was the path the perpetrator took on Tuesday. The Muslim representatives also arrange white roses around the wreath, for President Vural "a sign of peace, unity, and hope," as he told the APA. Some of the representatives murmur prayers, stretching their palms upwards according to Muslim ritual.

He is very confident that the judiciary is investigating in all directions, and he thanked the police, doctors, paramedics, and all emergency services with moving words. "It was such a terrible act," but from minute one, everyone stood side by side.

"We Will Pray for Them"

In the afternoon, the victims - including two girls of Muslim faith - will be commemorated in a Graz mosque after the Friday prayer, as Vural told the APA: "We will pray for them, we will remember them. They are children who should never have been killed," says the president in a soft voice. On Monday - the day after the large evening mourning rally at the main square in Graz - the funeral of the two girls will take place in the Styrian capital.

(APA/Red)

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