Sydney, 26 April, 2024 (GNP): Faraz Tahir, a 30-year-old Pakistani security officer at Bondi Junction Westfield in Sydney is being honored as a national hero for his heroic actions in defending customers against an assailant brandishing a knife.
On April 13, Tahir’s first day of work at the retail center, he was one of six persons slain in a stabbing incident.
To commemorate Tahir’s sacrifice, friends, family, and coworkers gathered for a funeral prayer at the Baitul Huda mosque in Marsden Park.
Muhammad Taha, a fellow security guard who was seriously injured while attempting to intercede during the attack, was present.
Remembering Tahir’s last words, “Let’s find out what’s going on,” Taha stood beside Tahir as commotion broke out in the shopping center.
The attack was stopped when Joel Cauchi, a 40-year-old attacker, was shot and killed by NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott.
Speaking outside the mosque, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed Tahir as a national hero and thanked Australia for his courage.
Premier of NSW Chris Minns shared these feelings, stating that the loss of a man with so much to offer is mourned by the state.
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Tahir fled persecution as an Ahmadiyya Muslim in Pakistan and arrived in Australia eighteen months ago.
Members of his family flew in from Pakistan to be at the funeral. While Mudasar Bashir took satisfaction in his brave deeds, his brother Shiraz Tahir talked about how excited his brother Faraz was about his new work.
Following Tahir’s passing, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has received support from all throughout Australia.
In remembrance of him, Red Cross Lifeblood and Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Australia (AMYA) have joined forces to arrange “Faraz’s Gift,” a nationwide blood drive. Launched on April 17, the campaign aims to memorialize Tahir and the other five victims of the horrific incident by encouraging Australians to donate blood.
