Imams consulted on mosque attacks film
Producers of the controversial film They Are Us consulted with the Imams of both mosques targeted in the Christchurch terror attacks, and ‘‘some of the victims,’’ but say they should have done more.
In a joint statement with the Muslim Association of Canterbury (MAC), producer Ayman Jamal said the production team was ‘‘devastated by the pain and concerns caused by the announcement of the film by the members of the New Zealand public, the Muslim community of New Zealand and in particular the victims directly impacted by events of March 15th 2019 in Christchurch.
‘‘This was never our intention, and we believe we owe a clarification to those families who lost their loved ones, survivors and witnesses regarding the film, its purpose and intention.’’
Outrage followed reports on Friday that a film focusing on prime minister Jacinda Ardern’s actions in the week following New Zealand’s most deadly mass murder, in which 51 people were killed, was in development with Australian actress Rose Byrne attached to play Ardern.
Despite Kiwi writer-director Andrew Niccol (Gattaca) saying the script had been developed in consultation with the Christchurch Muslim community, members said they were ‘‘blindsided’’ by the announcement, and expressed anger the film was set to centre on Ardern and not on the victims and survivors.
The Prime Minister herself said she didn’t think her story was one that should be told about the terror attacks, and while New Zealand producer Philippa Campbell defended the film, saying it would focus on ‘‘a host of heroes’’, she later withdrew from the production, saying she did not ‘‘wish to be involved with a project that is causing such distress’’.
Jamal has now provided further detail on both the consultation process and content, saying the production spoke to ‘‘Imam Gamal Fouda of Al Noor Mosque and Imam Alabi Lateef Zikrullah of Linwood Mosque and over 20 other victims of the March 15th [2019] attack’’ over a year ago.
’’At the time the Christchurch Muslim community was going through a lot, and we were engaging only with those families who were ready to share their story with us at that time,’’ he added.
MAC spokesperson Abdigani Ali confirmed some discussion had happened.
’’However, we have come to an understanding that more consultation needs to be done with the victims of the March 15th terrorist attack,’’ he said.
That included various community groups that represent victims as well as the ethnic communities represented among them.
‘‘We have agreed to work closely with the producers to facilitate this process of consultation,’’ said Ali.
The producers had contacted
MAC in the first instance, he said.
Jamal said the plot of They Are Us would take place over the course of one week, from the Friday the attacks took place to the following Friday. The gunman, now in prison for life, would not be depicted in the film and his name never mentioned, Jamal said.
Instead, he said, ‘‘during the
attack we witness the acts of heroism and sacrifice,’’ including worshippers and both Imams.
’’We witness the Muslim surgeon who saved the life of a four-year-old girl wounded in the attack and the Christchurch residents who came to the aid of worshippers,’’ he added.
’’We depict how refugees, fleeing violence, were forced to come to terms with the cruel irony that violence claimed them in one of the safest places on earth.’’
And, Jamal went on, the film would show Ardern’s actions in the week following the attacks, including uttering the title line hours later, and her swift ban on assault rifles.