A grieving father whose eight-year-old son was killed when a car crashed into a Sydney classroom has publicly forgiven the driver, Maha al-Shennag. The crash at Banksia Road Public School in Greenacre on Tuesday also claimed the life of another eight-year-old boy and injured three girls.
In a video message posted by undertaker Ahmad Hraichie, the father expressed forgiveness and a desire to meet the driver. 'They have forgiven. If anything, they want to sit with this lady and talk with her and tell her 'we forgive you',' Mr Hraichie translated. The father also invited Ms al-Shennag to share a meal with the family to discuss moving forward.
The father urged the community to stop any abuse directed at the driver and the school, describing the crash as 'an honest mistake' that 'could have happened to any of us'. Mr Hraichie noted the father's response exemplified 'the way a proper Muslim acts in a time of calamity and tribulation'.
Ms al-Shennag, 52, a parent at the school, has been charged with dangerous driving occasioning death. Police believe the crash was not intentional. Local lawmaker Jihad Dib described the community as 'very close-knit' and deeply affected by the tragedy.
