Venkat Raman
Auckland, March 15, 2021
Muslims praying at Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch on March 22, 2019, a week after a terrorist killed 51 people (Photo by AFP and other Licensors)
Two years ago today- March 15, 2019- the Muslim community was traumatised by reckless and merciless shootings of an Australian terrorist, which killed 51 men, women and children praying in two Mosques in Christchurch and injuring 40 others.
The rest of New Zealand rose in solidarity and stood by the families of victims.
An equally traumatised government promised assistance and support and established a Royal Commission of Inquiry to determine if there were any lapses and Report to the government its findings.
There was huge international response, a call to end terrorism and the need for joint efforts.
Lives were taken brutally by one white supremist, destroying the livelihood of families and the community continues to reel under shock.
But two years on, the community feels betrayed saying that Muslims in this country are left in the lurch and the families of victims are yet to receive financial compensation.
Indian Newslink has been in contact with the leaders of the Muslim community who in turn have been in consultation with various government agencies and departments responsible for response and support.
Their one word in unison: Disappointment.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern comforting a Muslim woman in Christchurch on March 16, 2019 (Picture Supplied)
Expression of Concerns
Among the concerns of the Muslim community are (1) Action against those who failed to protect the Muslim community despite Red Flags raised much earlier (2) Biased approach towards the community (3) A lack of response in addressing all their problems (4) Absence or totally inadequate financial support to the families of victims (5) Insufficient funding and poor follow-up of the promise to build resilience in the Muslim community following the terrorist attacks on March 15, 2019.
Indian Newslink understands that the Federation of Islamic Associations in New Zealand (FIANZ), the organisation that represents a majority of Muslims, has held detailed discussions with ministers, government officials, the New Zealand Police and others and have given reports on what is expected of them.
We also understand that much of the suggestions remain to be implemented.
In an interview to Newshub on March 12, 2021, Allyn (Aliya) Danzeisen, National Coordinator at the Islamic Women’s Council of New Zealand said that those responsible “should move out or should be pushed out.”
“The government has provided us $300,000 to build resilience within the community. This sum is enough to buy a cup of coffee to each of the 60,000 strong Islamic community. This is shameful. No payments have been made to the families of victims,” she said.
Apologies tendered
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, NZSIS Director General Rebecca Kitteridge, Police Commissioner Andy Coster and a few others have apologised to the Muslim community for the lapses that have occurred and assured the Muslim community.
Ms Ardern summarised the situation well, when she said, “For many years the Muslim community has raised concerns over issues like the disproportionate scrutiny by security and intelligence agencies. The Report confirms that there was an ‘inappropriate concentration of resources’ … and failings within the firearms licensing system. The Commission made no findings that these issues would have stopped the attack. But these were both failings nonetheless and for that I apologise.”
People being escorted out of the Police cordon on March 15, 2019 in Christchurch (RNZ Picture by Simon Rogers)
Royal Commission Comments
The Report submitted by the Royal Commission of Inquiry said that there has been an almost ‘head-in-the-sand’ approach to the threat of terrorism, an unwillingness to talk about it publicly and alert New Zealanders to the risk. People noticing the shooter (Brenton Tarrant) in the community, being aware of the risk of mass killings through access to semi-automatic weapons and being more proactive about reporting to authorities, would have had more chance of stopping his attacks than what government agencies would have had, the Commission said.
As we mark the second anniversary of the tragedy, we will yet again prove that we are a caring nation, and that there is no evidence of any root of terrorism amongst us.
The massacre was a reminder of how similar white-nationalist and jihadist killers really are.
As the Economist wrote, “though the two groups detest each other, they share methods, morals and mindsets. They see their own group as under threat and think this justifies extreme violence in “self-defence.” They are often radicalised on social media, where they tap into a multinational subculture of resentment.”
