In a Facebook post, a mosque spokesperson said an intact copy of the Holy Quran was found amid the ruins.

“The flames caused immense damage, leaving behind ruins and sorrow. Yet amidst it all, a remarkable sight stands as a symbol of hope: the Holy Quran remains intact, a powerful reminder of resilience and faith.

Following the fire, mosque leaders launched a Givealittle fundraising page to help fund restoration costs.

“Many of our brothers and sisters contacted us to ask how they could contribute to the restoration of our mosque. To make it easier for everyone to contribute, we have set up a Give a small page where you can donate to this important cause. Every contribution, big or small, will make a significant difference,” they wrote.

Funds raised will go toward repairing structural damage, replacing critical resources and increasing security.

The campaign invites people to support the rebuilding of the mosque, with updates on progress and fundraising efforts via the page.

The attacker allegedly broke in in the dark: what we know

McNeill said yesterday that police would be stationed around the city’s other mosques in the coming days to reassure the community.

The Imam Reza Mosque, on Astley Avenue, was broken into shortly before 1am yesterday. A glass door at the rear of the building had been broken. Police believe the fire was deliberately set.

The fire smoldered for another eight hours until it was visible from the street and emergency services were alerted, McNeill said.

Police and firefighters quickly established that the fire had been deliberately started.

Police have security footage showing a man allegedly breaking in and setting fire to the mosque.

There would be “an increased police presence around mosques” in Auckland “to ensure the community feels safe”, he said.

McNeill asked witnesses or anyone with information to contact police and reference file number 241105/3764.

“I tried to harm us”: the president of the mosque is provocative

A man linked to the Astley Ave religious center told the Herald, police were focusing on a broken rear window.

“It’s crazy,” he said.

“Doing things like this only creates more hatred, more fear.”

The fire was so intense that the plastic chairs had melted, he said.

No one was inside the building.

“I’m just glad no one was hurt, that it wasn’t during prayer time,” he said.

The mosque’s president, Feridoun Salehi, said in a message to his community: “There are those who tried to harm us, to shake the very foundations of our sacred space.

“Let us remember that the walls of a mosque are strong, but they are not our true foundation. Our true foundation is our faith, our love, our patience and our unity. They are stones that no fire can burn, no attack can weaken, and no words can shake.

Dr Muhammad Sajjad, president of the Islamic Council of New Zealand, said the Islamic community was scared and wanted reassurance that community policing was investigating the fire.

Sajjad said there had been an increase in the number of worrying incidents linked to religion and racial crime that community members had reported to authorities over the past two months.

“People are a little worried about the increasing number of incidents like this. »

Taaj Mohamed, president of the nearby New Lynn Islamic Center, said his organization was appalled by the attack.

Raphael Franks is an Auckland-based journalist covering current affairs. He joined the Herald as a Te Rito cadet in 2022.

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