NZ’s reaction to shooting exceptional: Cat Stevens

Yusuf Islam, better known as Cat Stevens, last worshipped at the Masjid Al Noor in Christchurch in December, 2017 during his 50th anniversary Peace Train tour.

So when he heard the news of the shootings on March 15, the location was familiar, Stuff.com reported.

When he met fellow Muslims at the National Remembrance Service in Hagley Park on Friday, two weeks after the shootings, he remembered some of the faces. The 70-year-old singer-songwriter was joined by double-bassist Bruce Lynch for a poignant set that included the 1972 song Don't Be Shy.

"...as a city I remember a peaceful, orderly place and very nice people and suddenly this monster enters the fray and starts shooting and picks his target. This awful mindset, I can't fathom it.

It's incomprehensible but at the same time you then see this incredible backlash of kindness and love and unity which is obviously so powerful that it changes the whole picture from dark to light, Islam told Stuff later in the day.