Call to share interview with gunman

Muslim leaders are calling for an interview with the man convicted of killing 51 members of their community to be made public.

The Royal Commission into the Attack on the Christchurch Mosques set up to find answers about the attack announced yesterday it had spoken to the shooter, as part of its inquiries.

He is awaiting sentencing for the murders of 51 people and the attempted murders of 40 others, in the attacks on Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Mosque on March 15, 2019.

Those in the Muslim community say they and the victims’ families deserve to know what he said in the interview.

Aya Al-Umari, whose brother Hussein Al-Umari was 35 years old when he was killed, said her family was relying on a Royal Commission report into the attacks for answers.

‘‘From us as families we really want to know answers. We want to know why, what happened. I’m personally expecting the Royal Commission report to answer these questions.’’

The government directed the commission to investigate the killer’s activities in the lead up to the attacks. The commission said it had spoken to the gunman to ‘‘help with some areas of uncertainty’’.

While the final report will be public, RNZ understands a decision is yet to be made on whether a full transcript of the interview will be included.

New Zealand Muslim Association president Ikhlaq Kashkari said detail will be distressing for the community, but it’s necessary.

Kashkari, who is also on the Muslim reference group for the commission, said going to trial would have provided more opportunities for questions to be asked.

‘‘Since he has pleaded guilty our concern is that interest that reporters would have had or if they could have dug more into it – our concern is that could be lost.’’

– RNZ