Muslim bride stirs applause at Sydney memorial

An Australian Muslim bride stopped by a memorial for the victims killed in a deadly siege of a Sydney café last week to pay her respects, the Sydney Morning Herald reported Sunday.

Mahmoud Homaisi watched as his bride Manal Kassem, dressed in an opulent wedding dress, hijab, and veil, laid her bridal flower bouquet in tribute to those killed.

A crowd that gathered around the newly-weds erupted in applause, the Mail reported.

“She did it out of respect for her country, that will one day be the country of her children and grandchildren,” Dina Kheir, the couple’s wedding planner to the Australian Associated Press (AAP).

Kassem’s tribute was applauded not only at the scene but also on Twitter where several users posted in support of her gesture.

Kassem had initially planned to get her wedding photos taken in the city but she had second thoughts following the attack.

“She was going to cancel [the photo-shoot] because she didn't want to be judged...celebrating her wedding in a scarf while people were terrorized,” Kheir said.

“But she made is a priority to visit the memorial site as the first pit stop.”