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Jacinda Ardern tells Christchurch service 'New Zealand mourns with you' – live
Jacinda Ardern tells Christchurch service 'New Zealand mourns with you' – live
(32 minutes later)
A Muslim leader has concluded the memorial in Hagley Park by speaking in the language of New Zealand's indigenous people, te reo Maori. "Aroha, Aroha, Aroha" he said. "Love, love, love".
Although police have said that the mosque shooting were conducted by a lone shooter, the terror threat in New Zealand is still high.
There are armed police carrying military-style assault rifles every hundred metres surrounding the event at Hagley Park, and guarding the Al Noor mosque. Council staff in high-visibility jackets are providing extra security. Police helicopters are flying overhead.
Despite that the mood is solemn, not tense. Police are not stopping anyone, they are here to provide a highly visible reassurance.
The imam has finished his address and prayers are continuing now.
“The martyrdom of 50 people and the injury of 42 did not come overnight, it was the result of the anti-Muslim rhetoric of some political leaders, media agencies and others,” says Imam Gamal Fouda of the Al Noor mosque.
“Last week’s event is proof and evidence to the entire world that terrorism has no colour, has no race, and has no religion.
“The rise of white supremacy and right wing extremism is a great global threat to mankind and this must end now.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank my Muslim and non-Muslim brothers and sisters for attending today.”
“Islamaphobia kills,” the imam is saying. He cites attacks in the US, UK and Canada.
“We call upon governments around the world, including New Zealand and neighbouring countries to bring an end to hate speech and the politics of fear.”
The imam is addressing his fellow Muslims now.
“To my brothers and sisters, those who are here today, to perform the weekly Friday prayer, thank you for coming together once again. It is easy to feel lost after the trauma you and I experienced. But the promise of Allah made to us is true.”
He continues his speech, thanking the government “who have shown us that we matter and we are not forgotten”.
He also thanks the police, “you put our lives before your own every day”.
“Thank you to the neighbours who opened their doors to save us from the killer,” he says. “Thank you to those who pulled over their cars to help us. Thank you to those who brought us food and helped us when we found it difficult to stand.”
Imam Gamal Fouda is thanking the people of New Zealand.
“Thank you for your tears. Thank you for your haka. Thank you for your flowers. Thank you for your love and compassion.”
He thanks Jacinda Ardern. This gets the biggest round of applause so far.
“Thank you for your leadership, it has been a lesson for the world’s leaders, thank you for holding our families close and honouring us with a simple scarf. Thank you for your words and tears of compassion. Thank you for being one with us.”
Imam Gamal Fouda of Al Noor mosque continues: “Do not say of those who have been killed in the way of Allah that they are dead. They are alive, rejoicing with their Lord. They were the best of us, taken from us on the best of days, in the best of places, performing the best of actions.
“They are not just martyrs of Islam, but they are martyrs of this land New Zealand.
“Our loss of you is a gain to NewZealand’s unity and strength. Your departure is an awakening not just for our nation but for all humanity. Your martyrdom is a new life for New Zealand and a chance of prosperity for many. Our assembly here, with all the shades of our diversity, is a testament of our joint humanity.We are leer in – we are here in our hundreds and thousands unified for one purpose - that hate will be undone and love will redeem us.”
He tells the families of those who died that they did not die in vain.
“Their blood will water the seeds of hope and people will see the beauty of Islam.”
“This terrorist sought to tear our nation apart with an evil ideology... but instead we have shown that New Zealand is unbreakable and that the world can see in us as an example of love and unity,” says the Muslim leader.
“We are broken-hearted but we are not broken. We are determined to not let anyone divide us.”
A Muslim leader is speaking now.
“Brothers and sisters in Islam, brothers and sisters in humanity, brothers and sisters in New Zealand. Last Friday I stood in this mosque and saw hatred and rage in the eyes of the terrorist, who killed and martyred 50 people, wounded 42 and broke the hearts of millions around the world.
“Today, from the same place, I look out and see the love and compassion in the eyes of thousands of fellow New Zealanders and fellow human beings from across the globe.”
The nationwide two-minute silence has now begun.
The nationwide two-minute silence has now begun.
The call to prayer has started. This is being broadcast across the country on the radio and television.
The call to prayer has started. This is being broadcast across the country on the radio and television.
Jacinda Ardern is speaking now. She greets the crowd in Arabic.
Jacinda Ardern is speaking now. She greets the crowd in Arabic.
She says: “According the the prophet Mohammed... The believers int heir mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are just like one body. When any part of the body suffers, the whole body feels pain. New Zealand mourns with you, we are one”.
She says: “According the the prophet Mohammed... The believers int heir mutual kindness, compassion and sympathy are just like one body. When any part of the body suffers, the whole body feels pain. New Zealand mourns with you, we are one”.
The prime minister has arrived. She is wearing the same black headscarf she wore when she first visited Christchurch in the wake of the attack, and is moving through the crowd.
The prime minister has arrived. She is wearing the same black headscarf she wore when she first visited Christchurch in the wake of the attack, and is moving through the crowd.
Memorials in every major city - Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin, Hamilton and Christchurch are being attended by thousands of people. Remember today is a work day in NZ, so many Kiwis have skipped work and school to attend. Waiata's (Maori songs) are being gently sung @MsKateLyons
Memorials in every major city - Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin, Hamilton and Christchurch are being attended by thousands of people. Remember today is a work day in NZ, so many Kiwis have skipped work and school to attend. Waiata's (Maori songs) are being gently sung @MsKateLyons
Christchurch shooting: remembering the victims
Christchurch shooting: remembering the victims
Judith Collins, a New Zealand MP and former police minister, has told the National Rifle Association to “bugger off” out of the country’s business, as New Zealand prepares to introduce changes to gun laws.
Collins, who is a National Party MP, told the Sydney Morning Herald that when she sought to introduce gun law reforms, she was inundated by lobbying from New Zealand’s gun industry, who sent her material she believed was sourced from the NRA.
I actually said the NRA can bugger off! And they can. https://t.co/FIcCiNAw8F
While the gun reforms announced yesterday have attracted some praise in the US, with senator Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeting their support, the NRA have said such laws would not work in the US.
Sandy Hook happened 6 years ago and we can’t even get the Senate to hold a vote on universal background checks w/ #HR8.Christchurch happened, and within days New Zealand acted to get weapons of war out of the consumer market.This is what leadership looks like ⬇️ https://t.co/TcdR63anBt
“The US isn’t New Zealand,” Dana Loesch, a prominent gun rights activist and National Rifle Association spokeswoman, tweeted. “They do not have an inalienable right to bear arms and to self-defense, we do.”
In another tweet, she wrote: “To ‘follow these examples’ the US would need to repeal the Second Amendment, ban all semi-auto, force gun stores to show all purchases to gov’t, and spend $200 million taxpayer dollars to confiscate firearms.”
Clarke Gayford, Jacinda Ardern’s partner, tweeted overnight that the couple’s daughter Neve had her “9 month birthday”. He said that “her mum got her the gift of having a safer country to grow up in”, a reference to the gun control laws Ardern announced yesterday.
For her 9 month birthday today we received the gift of crawling. While her mum got her the gift of having a safer country to grow up in. pic.twitter.com/FiCSTn0PM8
Jacinda Ardern will return to Christchurch to participate in the prayer service today, after yesterday announcing sweeping changes to New Zealand’s gun laws.
Yesterday from Wellington, Ardern announced a ban on assault rifles and military-style semi-automatics.
“I absolutely believe there will be a common view amongst New Zealanders, those who use guns for legitimate purposes, and those who have never touched one, that the time for the mass and easy availability of these weapons must end. And today they will,” said Ardern.
Parts that are used to convert guns into military-style semi-automatics (MSSAs) have also being banned, along with high-capacity magazines and parts that cause a firearm to generate semi-automatic, automatic or close-to-automatic gunfire.
“In short, every semi-automatic weapon used in the terrorist attack on Friday will be banned in this country,” said Ardern.
The ban on the sale of the weapons came into effect at 3pm on Thursday – the time of the press conference announcing the ban – with the prime minister warning that “all sales should now cease” of the weapons.
Ardern also directed officials to develop a gun-buyback scheme for those who already own such weapons. She said “fair and reasonable compensation” would be paid.
Full story here.
Two men who were injured in the shooting are sitting in the front row. Others are rushing forward to help them prepare and remove their shoes. @MsKateLyons pic.twitter.com/DSfUEmGane
The crowd is getting really quite large now. Men’s and women’s prayer spaces behind the barriers up front, public space in the back. A number of shooting victims are here in wheelchairs. They are sitting in the front row. @MsKateLyons pic.twitter.com/JrgA5VW6G2
This is the big screen that will stream Jacinda Ardern’s remarks and the service to the crowd. I am rubbish at crowd numbers but there are officially an awful lot of people in the public section, with more still arriving. @MsKateLyons pic.twitter.com/QJFzLA7Xhm
Many of those attending the service in Hagley Park have never visited a mosque before.
Most non-Muslim women, from council workers to media to police officers, are wearing hijabs. Some have donned them just for the service while others are wearing their scarves all day in a mark of solidarity.
“It is a mark of respect to show that we care,” says Sue.
Christchurch is such a small city that even those outside the Muslim community, like Nicole, know some of those directly affected.
“We are here to show respect and also to grieve,” she says.
Judith Millar says she does not know anyone in Christchurch’s Muslim community but “as a member of the Christchurch community I feel deep empathy over what has occurred and to the people who have been affected.”
Luul Ibrahim is among hundreds of people who have begun to gather at Hagley Park in Christchurch where a public service will be held to commemorate those killed in last Friday’s mosque shooting.
Her brother, Mucad Ibrahim, 3, was the youngest person killed in the massacre. She moved to Perth from Christchurch in 2003, and says he died before she had a chance to meet him.
“I wish I could have met him, but maybe one day I can meet him in heaven.”
Ibrahim said she attended Masjid Al Noor, where 42 of the victims were killed, every week and knew most of those affected. She said Haji Mohammed Daoud Nabi, who opened the door of the mosque to the shooter and was praised by Jacinda Ardern in parliament, was like “an uncle” to her and other children.
“I consider him an uncle. He used to be the bus driver so he would pick us all up, drive us around, make jokes.”
She said the public service on Friday “brings all religions together.”
“It brings love, peace and harmony as well, it unites us.”
Last night, more than 18,000 people attended a candlelit vigil for victims of the Christchurch terrorist attack in the New Zealand city of Dunedin, where the gunman lived for two years.
Many of those in attendance at the Forsyth Barr Stadium, which is usually used for games of rugby and rock concerts, were students, who have been a constant presence outside the city’s sole mosque since last Friday, laying flowers and leaving notes of condolence.
The students gathered before the vigil at the university campus before walking silently through the city’s streets to the stadium, joined by members of Dunedin’s Muslim community.
Full story here.
Thousands attend vigil in Dunedin for victims of Christchurch attack
This is the area in Hagley Park where the service will be held. Already a few hundred people here, thousands are expected by 1pm. We are opposite Masjid Al Noor, which is still blocked off by police. Most women, whatever their faith, are in headscarves. pic.twitter.com/gDsCc3wH9y
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the events in Christchurch.
It is now a week since the shootings at the two mosque which killed 50 people.
Today, Jacinda Ardern returns to Christchurch to observe the call to prayer at 1:30pm (in about an hour) in Hagley Park, near Al Noor mosque.
Thousands are expected to attend the service, and the call to prayer will be broadcast around the country on New Zealand television and radio. There will also be two minutes of silence held across the country, in a day of nationwide mourning.
The observance comes the day after the government announced a ban on “military-style” semi-automatic firearms and high-capacity magazines like the weapons that were used in last Friday’s attacks.
At least 42 people died at the Al Noor mosque and at least seven others at the nearby Linwood mosque after a white supremacist gunned them down.
We will bring you news of this day without precedent in New Zealand, as it unfolds. My colleague Calla Wahlquist is on the ground in Christchurch, follow Calla and me on Twitter for updates or to get in touch to tell us how you are marking the day.
