THE WORLD TODAY

Shooting victims remembered one year on

PEOPLE in the New Zealand city of Christchurch have remembered the 51 worshippers who were killed in a mass shooting a year ago, after a planned national memorial event was cancelled due to fears it might spread the coronavirus.

Two mosques were attacked by a gunman during Friday Prayer on March 15, 2019. He is expected to go on trial for murder and attempted murder in June.

Outside one of the mosques, the Al Noor mosque, dozens of leatherclad bikers from the Tu Tangata club performed a traditional Maori haka. They were welcomed by mosque imam Gamal Fouda, who said people of all beliefs and cultures were stopping to pay their respects, and they were all united as New Zealanders.

One of those who survived the shooting at the Linwood mosque was Mazharuddin Syed Ahmed, who said that marking anniversaries was not typically a Muslim tradition but they were doing it so the wider community could grieve and remember.

He said the shootings had provoked an outpouring of love and compassion. “Of course, we lost our loved friends, family, people and community,” he said.

“But we are also seeing so much good has come out of it, so looking at the positive part of that. Today, it is such a privilege to be in this country.”

Temel Atacocugu, who survived after being shot nine times at the Al Noor mosque, said the anniversary had provoked strong feelings. We are sad more than we are angry,” he said. “It’s very emotional. When I woke up this morning,

I’m speechless. I can’t explain what I feel.”

Prime minister Jacinda Ardern said on Saturday that the decision to cancel the national memorial event planned for Horncastle Arena was pragmatic and precautionary.