Syria refugees killed at mosque recalled
Other funerals planned for Christchurch victims
CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — A father and son who fled the civil war in Syria for “the safest country in the world” were buried before hundreds of mourners Wednesday in the first funerals for victims of shootings at two mosques in New Zealand that horrified a nation known for being welcoming and diverse.
The funerals of Khalid Mustafa,
44, and Hamza Mustafa, 15, came five days after a white supremacist allegedly gunned down 50 worshippers at two mosques in Christchurch — a massacre broadcast live on Facebook. Police said Wednesday they believe he was on his way to a third attack when officers ran him off the road and arrested him.
Those present included Hamza’s younger brother, 13-year-old Zaed, who was wounded in an arm and a leg during the attack. The boy tried to stand during the ceremony but had to sit back in his wheelchair, one mourner said.
The Mustafas had moved to New Zealand last year after spending six years as refugees in Jordan. Mustafa’s wife, Salwa, told Radio New Zealand that when the family asked about New Zealand they were told “it’s the safest country in the world, the most wonderful country you can go … you will start a very wonderful life there.” She added, “But it wasn’t.”
Four other burials were under way on Wednesday evening. Those victims include Junaid Ismail, Ashraf Ali and Lilik Abdul Hamid. The fourth victim’s name was suppressed by court order.
Brenton Harrison Tarrant, a 28-year-old Australian man, has been charged with murder and is next scheduled to appear in court April 5.
Philip Arps, 44, appeared in a Christchurch court Wednesday on two charges of distributing the killer’s livestreamed video of the attack on the Al Noor mosque, the first mosque that was attacked, in violation of the country’s objectionable publications law. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.
Judge Stephen O’driscoll denied Arps bail.