With black ribbons pinned to their chests, the family of Faraz Tahir spoke lovingly about their brother, nephew and uncle.
“We are very proud of him,” his brother, Mudasar Bashir said in Sydney on Thursday. “In Islam, in our religion, if you save even one human, you save all humanity.”
A refugee from Pakistan, Tahir was on his first day shift as a security guard at the Bondi Junction Westfield shopping centre when Joel Cauchi launched his stabbing attack, killing five women and one man — Tahir.
Faraz Tahir fled Pakistan as a refugee and came to Australia in 2022. Source: SBS News / Supplied
Jade Young, 47, Ashlee Good, 38, Dawn Singleton, 25, Pikria Darchia, 55, and Yixuan Cheng, 27, that injured 12 others, including a baby.
Tahir, 30, and another security guard, Muhammad Taha, ran towards Cauchi and the wounded when the killer turned his attention towards the pair.
Taha was stabbed in the stomach, but survived — Tahir did not.
“He was a very brave man, he was very strong,” Bashir said.
“It was in his blood” to run towards danger, he continued.
“I don’t know how many people he saved during that time, I think a lot of people are alive because of him,” Bashir said, adding that Tahir’s faith and upbringing as an Ahmadiyya Muslim fuelled his selfless actions on that day.
Now instead of celebrating his 31st birthday on Wednesday, his family flew in to see his body.
‘I have a job, let me sleep’
Bashir spoke of how excited Tahir was to share that he had recently secured the job as a security guard.
“When he came to Australia, he was very happy,” he said.
Bashir said he spoke to Tahir the night before the attack, where he had explained he had to work in the morning on his first day shift. He had been working night shifts.
“He said ‘I have a job, let me sleep,’ and I said ‘okay we will talk tomorrow’ … and it was the last time we spoke,” Bashir said.
Speaking through an interpreter, the eldest brother and head of the family Muzafar Ahmad Tahir said they were still grappling with the loss.
“We are still coming to reality with what has happened,” he said. “We always thought he was in a safe space now … there are so many emotions.”
The family spoke of how they believed Australia was a safe place and were “satisfied” that Tahir would have a bright future in the country.
“It never came to their minds that something would happen to his life,” the interpreter said.
(left to right) Sheraz Ahmad Munir Ahmad, Muzafar Ahmad Tahir, and Mudasar Bashir, the brothers of Bondi Junction stabbing victim Faraz Tahir. Source: AAP / Dan Himbrechts
Bidding a hero goodbye
A funeral service for Tahir will be held on Friday, which Muzafar Ahmad Tahir was open to everyone to attend.
“They would like to welcome all Australians, if they knew him or they did not know him,” the interpreter stated, adding that Muzafar hoped others would pray for his brother, the family and the other victims.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns have been invited to the service, where Minns intends to say a few words.
It will be the first time that a premier has been invited by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community to speak at such an event.
The interpreter said the family had been to visit Bondi Junction and had seen the flowers and messages left behind by the public – leaving them “overwhelmed”.
The family said they have collaborated with the Red Cross to arrange a blood drive, entitled ‘Faraz’ gift’ which the interpreter urged the public to donate to if they are able.
Mourners hold up posters of murdered security guard Faraz Tahir during a candlelight vigil to honour the victims of the Bondi Junction tragedy at Bondi Beach. Source: AAP / Dean Lewins
“That is the best way to continue his legacy,” he said. “Even though he was a stranger, he gave his blood to protect the public.”
Muzafar said it was an easy decision to bury his brother in Australia, his “final destination” after fleeing persecution in Pakistan, as he gave his life to defend the Australian public.
“He loved this land, he sacrificed his life and blood for Australia, so we decided to bury him in a place he wanted to be.”
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Additional reporting by Australian Associated Press
Tyler Mitchell