Venu Menon
Wellington, August 7,2024
The wind-down of the Government’s response to the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks has left some in the Muslim community disappointed.
The coordinated cross-government response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the March 15 mosque attacks concluded last week with Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins saying the time was right for closure.
The coordinated response was led by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC), which considered 44 recommendations made by the Royal Commission of Inquiry in its report released in December 2020.
Of those, 36 had been implemented or were “being integrated into ongoing work programmes, while the remaining eight will not be progressing.”
The recommendations have led to outcomes such as the creation of the first National Security Strategy and publication of the first New Zealand Security Threat Environment Report, establishment of the Firearms Safety Authority and the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, as well as the release of “Know the Signs” – a guide for identifying signs of violent extremism.
Collins also announced that an annual anniversary broadcast of the Adhan (call to prayer) would continue, and a memorial to honour the Shuhada (martyrs) was under consideration.
The eight Royal Commission recommendations that will not go forward include the establishment of a new national intelligence and security agency, setting up an Advisory Group on Counter-terrorism via legislation, incorporating advice from the Advisory Group in the annual National Security Intelligence Priorities threatscape report, developing a system for the public to report concerning behaviours and incidents, introducing mandatory reporting of firearm injuries to police by health professionals, and amending hate speech and related laws.
But the Muslim community was left with the sense that the Government wanted to bring the matter to closure and move on.
Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ) spokesperson Abdur Razzaq said he was “thoroughly disappointed” that the Government made the announcement without consultation with the Muslim community.
“This was totally contradictory to the promises made by the prime minister and this minister that there would be adequate opportunity for the community and those impacted to give a response to the new settings of this [coalition] government.”
Razzaq said Collins’ meeting with the community was not consultation, but “a one-way monologue.”
Imam Gamal Fouda of the Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch told local media:
“We wanted our Government to actually work with us and to look at the needs of the shattered and broken Muslim community. We are still in a recovery stage.”
Imam Fouda added he hoped attacks such as the one that happened on 15 March 2019 “will never happen again but many think it will.”
From August 30, National’s Matt Doocey will be the Government’s “point of contact for the March 15-affected community to connect with government agencies and support as required,” Collins announced.
In a statement, Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins deplored the Government’s decision to drop the remaining eight recommendations.
“Calling it quits before implementing all the recommendations while hinting at liberalisation of the law around semi-automatics is out of touch. Taking investment from work being done on reporting threat channels and no money for counter-terrorism advisory group are terrible cuts,” Hipkins remarked.
An Australian national with semi-automatic weapons attacked two city mosques in Christchurch on 15 March 2019, killing 51 people and leaving scores injured and traumatised.
Venu Menon is an Indian Newslink reporter based in Wellington
