A year after the attacks in Christchurch, where an Australian killed 51 worshipers in two mosques, there is still "much to do" to fight the white supremacists, said New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Friday.
After this attack, the worst massacre in the archipelago for more than two centuries, the head of government had been praised by the international community for her management of this crisis for her calm and her compassionate attitude towards the victims and also for its initiatives in gun control or online extremist content.
Man recently arrested for threats against mosques
But she lamented on Friday that some in New Zealand continue to adhere to the ideology of the author of the carnage of Christchurch, an Australian who claims to be part of the white supremacist current. “Our responsibility is to fight not only the fact that these ideas exist, but also what makes their existence possible. There are a lot of things to do, ”said Jacinda Ardern, two days before the Sunday ceremonies to mark the first anniversary of the carnage. She believed that the best way to pay tribute to the victims was to speak out against racism, harassment and discrimination.
"People will feel safe when they feel supported," she said. "When they feel that the population supports them, when they no longer feel discrimination, will no longer hear unpleasant remarks on the streets. She felt that the carnage in Christchurch had "fundamentally changed" New Zealand. However, about ten days ago, the police arrested a 19-year-old man for threats against one of the two mosques attacked. "It is incomprehensible to me, after all that the Muslim community has experienced, that people (...) can still threaten Muslims," she said.
Mass a year after the attacks
The Prime Minister then joined a thousand worshipers in the Friday prayer in Christchurch. Many Muslims living elsewhere in New Zealand made the trip especially for this time, almost a year to the day after the March 15 attacks. "We have to keep in mind that this kind of extremist ideology still exists and continue to be vigilant," said Nasir Ali, who flew from Auckland with his family to share "the sadness" of the people of Christchurch.
Farid Ahmed, whose wife was killed on March 15, 2019, said that 12 months later, the pain still remains. "The lesson to be learned is that hatred does not solve anything," said the man who moved the world after the attacks, publicly forgiving the killer. "We must speak, we must dialogue, we must ask ourselves questions and we must not be afraid of each other".
World
Christchurch attacks: Accused abandons request for a change of scene from trial
- New Zealand
- Video
- World
- Extremism
- Christchurch attacks