The Sydney siege memorial continues to grow with heartfelt notes and floral tributes, but one of the most significant offerings has come from a Muslim bride on her wedding day.
Manal Kassem, who wed at the weekend, was seen leaving her bridal bouquet at the memorial site as a tribute to the Lindt Café siege victims.
Wearing a full white lace dress and veil, the 23-year-old bride approached the memorial site with her husband Mahmod Homaisi and placed her white bouquet on the growing sea of flowers. As the waiting crowd watched, they broke into applause.
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Manal’s wedding planner said she had planned on having her wedding pictures taken in the popular Sydney spot, but had reconsidered after the tragedy occurred.
“She was going to cancel [the photoshoot] because she didn’t want to be judged … celebrating her wedding in a scarf while people were terrorised,” wedding planner Dina Kheir told AAP.
“But she made it her priority to visit the memorial site as the first pit stop.
“She did it out of respect for her country, that will one day be the country of her children and grandchildren.”
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The photos of Manal and her new husband were posted on twitter by Mariam Veiszadeh who wrote: “Meet Manal Kassem…an Australian Muslim bride placing her bridal bouquet at the #MartinPlace Memorial.
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