NZ mosque attack film should focus on Muslims: Jacinda

Author: Staff Report

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday that NZ’s Muslim community should be the focus of any film about the Christchurch mosque attacks after some people raised objections to a movie focussing on her response to the bloodshed.

A film called They Are Us is being planned about the attacks on two mosques by a white supremacist gunman on March 15, 2019, in which 51 people were killed, the Hollywood Reporter said last week.

The magazine described the film as an “inspirational story” about Ardern’s response to the violence.

Ardern’s office said last week she and the government had no involvement with the film. Asked about it at a news conference, she said the Muslim community should be at the centre of any film about the shootings, not her.

Ardern’s office said last week she and the government had no involvement with the film. Asked about it at a news conference, she said the Muslim community should be at the centre of any film about the shootings, not her

“This is a very raw event for New Zealand and even more so for the community that experienced it,” Jacinda Ardern said. “I agree that there are stories that at some point should be told from March 15. But they are the stories from our Muslim community so they need to be at the centre of that. I don’t consider mine to be one of the stories that need to be told,” she said. She said, however, it was not for her to say whether a project should go ahead or not.

The film’s title is drawn from Jacinda Ardern’s words on the day of the shootings. The 40-year-old leader’s compassionate response united her shocked country and was praised globally

New Zealander Andrew Niccol would write and direct the film, the Hollywood Reporter said. It quoted him as saying it was not so much about the attacks but Ardern’s handling of it.

But some Muslims questioned the plan to make a film when the pain of victims’ families, friends, and the wider community was still so raw. They also questioned the plan to focus the film on the prime minister and not the victims.

Muslim community advocate Guled Mire told the 1 NEWS network that he thought the film was “distasteful”.

“It completely feeds into this white savior mentality,” he said.

Armed with high-capacity semi-automatic weapons, Australian Brenton Tarrant killed 51 people and injured dozens when he opened fire in the two mosques during Friday prayers in Christchurch. Tarrant was sentenced to life in prison without parole last year.

Share
Leave a Comment

Recent Posts

  • Pakistan

Parliament passes bills on military chiefs tenure extension, SC expansion

The National Assembly on Monday passed six bills, including one seeking an increase in the…

7 hours ago
  • Pakistan

SBP cuts key policy rate by 250bps to 15pc

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) announced on Monday that it had decided to cut…

15 hours ago
  • Pakistan

Verdict reserved on Imran, wife’s bail pleas in 7 cases

The district and sessions court in Islamabad on Monday reserved its verdict on bail pleas…

15 hours ago
  • Pakistan

Six terrorists killed in two KP operations

At least six terrorists were killed by the security forces in two separation operations in…

15 hours ago
  • Pakistan

Punjab has no plan to buy PIA, clarifies minister

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari on Monday said that the provincial government had "no intentions"…

15 hours ago
  • World

Israeli strikes kill 10 in Gaza, keep up pressure on north

Israeli airstrikes killed at least 10 Palestinians in Gaza, with seven dead in an attack…

15 hours ago