Iraqi-NZer upset Sky Tower not lit up for Baghdad victims

  • 05/07/2016
Rania Alani
Rania Alani

An Iraqi-New Zealander is mystified as to why the Sky Tower isn't being lit up to remember the more than 200 victims of the Baghdad bombing.

The Auckland landmark was lit up like a rainbow in honour of the 49 victims of the Orlando nightclub massacre and has been lit up following other tragedies.

Aucklander Rania Alani has written to SkyCity asking why the same isn't being done for Iraqis.

"I expect that I have some respect from the Sky Tower management to think, 'You know what, maybe we should do this out of respect for the 300-plus people that have died in Iraq,'" she told Willie and Ali on RadioLIVE.

"I wish that it's not that Iraqis' lives are cheaper, and it kind of does seem like it. Everyone is so immune to Iraqis dying lately.

"But this was a massive incident, and it affected a lot of families in New Zealand."

A SkyCity spokesperson says the tower is lit up for several different occasions, including national holidays, in support of charity and to show solidarity and support with other world landmarks following certain global events.

Iraqi-NZer upset Sky Tower not lit up for Baghdad victims

The tower is lit up for several different occasions (file)

"Aucklanders also help us make decisions on tower lighting by communicating with us via social media, phone calls and email.

"The Sky Tower can never reflect all the disasters in the world, nor all the celebrations. But we do our best to help mark key moments in time for which the public wish to show their support, solidarity and commemoration."

The tower was lit up black, yellow and red following the Belgium terror attack and in tri-colour after last year's Islamic State strike on Paris.

Last week the Sky Tower was lit up red and white in solidarity with the people of Turkey after the attack at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport.

Newshub.