On what should have been a day of celebration, the loved ones of Sydney security guard Faraz Tahir spent his 31st birthday seeing his body for the first time. Tahir was on his first shift as a security guard at the Westfield when Joel Cauchi stormed the shopping centre. The 31-year-old moved to Australia as a refugee just a year ago, fleeing persecution in his home country Pakistan. His family arrived in Australia on Wednesday ahead of Tahir’s funeral on Friday.
Tahir was a “cherished” member of the Muslim community since his move to Australia. “He quickly became an integral part of our community, known for his unwavering dedication and kindness,” the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Australia said.
Tahir’s farewell comes after Michaela Dunn, a mother and architect, was remembered at a memorial service on Tuesday. Her mother said she wanted Australia “to listen” and remember her “glorious” and “hardworking” daughter, as she called for the government to address the gaps in mental health care.
