The World Reacts To New Zealand White Extremist Supremacist Massacres Of The Muslims Inside Mosques
15 March 2019Several Agencies
World leaders react with horror to the deadly attacks at two mosques in
Christchurch during Friday prayers.
Political leaders from across the world have expressed their condemnation at
the deadly shooting at two mosques in New Zealand city of Christchurch on
Friday.
Forty-nine people were killed and at least 20 suffered serious injuries in the
shootings targeting the mosques during Friday prayers.
New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the shooting appeared to be a
well-planned "terrorist attack".
Police say three men and a woman are in custody in connection with the
attacks.
The timing of the shootings and the posting on social media of what appeared
to be live, point-of-view video footage of the assault by a gunman, added to
the distress of many.
Here is how political leaders around the world reacted soon after the
incident.
Turkey
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the deadly attack on the
mosques, saying it illustrated the growing hostility towards Islam "idly"
watched by the world.
"With this attack, hostility towards Islam, that the world has been idly
watching and even encouraging for some time, has gone beyond individual
harassment to reach the level of mass killing," Erdogan said at the funeral of
a former Turkish minister.
"It is clear that the understanding represented by the killer that also
targets our country, our people and myself, has started to take over Western
societies like a cancer."
Erdogan's spokesman separately condemned what he called a "racist and fascist"
attack.
"This attack shows the point which hostility to Islam and enmity to Muslims
has reached," Ibrahim Kalin wrote on Twitter.
"We have seen many times Islamophobic discourse against Islam and Muslims
turning into a perverse and murderous ideology. The world must raise its voice
against such discourse and must say stop to Islamophobic fascist terrorism,"
he said.
US President Trump condemns the "horrible massacre" at two mosques in New
Zealand, sending his "warmest sympathy and best wishes" to the people of the
country.
"49 innocent people have so senselessly died, with so many more seriously
injured. The US stands by New Zealand for anything we can do," Trump wrote in
a post on Twitter.
Earlier, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement that
the US strongly condemned the attack.
"The United States strongly condemns the attack in Christchurch. Our thoughts
and prayers are with the victims and their families. We stand in solidarity
with the people of NewZealand and their government against this vicious act of
hate," Sanders said.
European Union
The EU foreign policy chief extended condolences over the loss of lives in New
Zealand, saying that "attacks on places of worship are attacks on all of us
who value diversity and freedom of religion and expression."
"We stand in full solidarity with the people and authorities of New Zealand at
this extremely difficult time and stand ready to support in any way, including
by strengthening our cooperation on counter-terrorism," Federica Mogherini,
the EU High Representative for Foreign Relations and Security Policy, said in
a statement.
Mogherini said such acts "strengthen our resolve to tackle, together with the
whole international community, the global challenges of terrorism, extremism
and hatred."
Indonesia
Indonesia, the world's biggest Muslim-majority country, strongly condemned the
shooting as authorities were checking on whether any of its citizens were
victims.
"The government and the people of Indonesia convey deep condolences to the
victims and their families," Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said in a
statement.
She was earlier cited by media as saying six Indonesians had been inside the
mosque when the attack occurred, with three managing to escape and three still
unaccounted for.
Malaysia
In Muslim-majority Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, the leader of the biggest party in
its ruling coalition, said one Malaysian had been wounded in the attack he
described as a "black tragedy facing humanity and universal peace".
"I am deeply saddened by this uncivilised act, which goes against humanistic
values and took the lives of civilians," he said in a statement.
"We extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to the families of the
victims and the people of New Zealand."
Germany
German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed sorrow over the "citizens who were
attacked and murdered out of racist hatred" in attacks on the mosques.
"We stand together against such acts of terrorism," Merkel said through her
spokesman, Steffen Seibert, on Twitter, adding that the victims had been doing
nothing more than "peacefully praying in their mosque".
Scotland
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon called the incident "beyond awful"
and called Muslims a "valued part" of Scottish society.
"Innocent people being murdered as they worship is horrific and heartbreaking.
My thoughts and solidarity are with New Zealand's Muslim community and all of
its people on this dark day," she tweeted.
She added: "Today, at mosques across Scotland and elsewhere, Muslims will
attend Friday prayers. They are a valued part of our diverse and multicultural
society. It is terrorists who commit acts such as who offend our values as a
society. We must stand against Islamophobia and all hate."
Afghanistan
Afghanistan's ambassador to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji, Wahidullah Waissi,
said on Twitter three Afghans had been wounded.
"My thoughts are with the family of Afghan origin who've been shot and killed
at this heinous incident."
Pakistan
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan blamed the New Zealand attacks on rising
Islamophobia after 2001's September 11 attacks.
"Shocked and strongly condemn the Christchurch, New Zealand, terrorist attack
on mosques. This reaffirms what we have always maintained: that terrorism does
not have a religion. Prayers go to the victims and their families," he
tweeted.
"I blame these increasing terror attacks on the current Islamophobia post-9/11
where Islam & 1.3 bn Muslims have collectively been blamed for any act of
terror by a Muslim. This has been done deliberately to also demonize
legitimate Muslim political struggles," he added.
Australia
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his country stood with New
Zealand after the tragic attack.
"We stand here and condemn, absolutely the attack that occurred today by an
extremist, right-wing, violent terrorist," Morrison told a press conference.
He confirmed media reports that the gunman who mowed down worshippers in the
main mosque in the southern New Zealand city of Christchurch was an
Australian-born citizen, without providing further details.
"We are not just allies, we are not just partners, we are family," he said.
"It is such a sad and devastating reminder of the evil that can be ever
present about us," Morrison said of the attacks.
At least 49 killed, 48 injured in terror attack on mosques in New Zealand's
Christchurch
At least 49 people were killed and 48 others, 20 of them in critical
condition, were injured in shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New
Zealand during Friday prayers, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.
Ardern said 30 were killed in the Masjid Al Noor mosque and 10 were killed in
a mosque in the suburb of Linwood.
"It is clear that this can only be described as a terrorist attack," Ardern
said, adding that New Zealand had been placed on its highest security threat
level. She said four people in police custody held extremist views, but had
not been on any police watchlists.
There is no place in New Zealand for such acts of extreme and unprecedented
violence, which it is clear this act was," said Ardern in earlier remarks. "It
is clear this is one of New Zealand's darkest days."
A man who claimed responsibility for the shootings said in a manifesto that he
was a 28-year-old white Australian who came to New Zealand only to plan and
train for the attack.
The gunman who killed numerous worshippers in a New Zealand mosque on Friday
was a right-wing extremist with Australian citizenship, Prime Minister Scott
Morrison said.
Morrison said the shooting in Christchurch was carried out by "an extremist,
right-wing, violent terrorist" who was an Australian-born citizen.
He declined to provide further details, saying the investigation was being led
by New Zealand authorities.
The assailant, identified as 28-year-old Breton Tarrant, shared the attack
live on his social media account, but Facebook was quick to react and delete
the video.
The footage showed that the guns used by Tarrant during the attack beared the
names of some historic figures, many of whom were involved in the killing of
Muslims, as well as assailants of older attacks targeting Muslims in Europe
and in North America.
A social media account had also posted a number of pictures of a
semi-automatic weapon covered in the names of historical figures, many of whom
were involved in the killing of Muslims.
He also left a 74-page anti-immigrant manifesto in which he explained who he
was and his reasoning for his actions. He also targeted Turks in the racist
text, saying Turks will be forced out of Europe and all mosques in Istanbul
will be demolished.
Two Turkish citizens living in the area have been injured in the attack and
are in good condition, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said during a press
conference.
Residents in Christchurch were advised to stay indoors and notify authorities
if they see anything suspicious.
The country's police commissioner, Mike Bush, said three men and a woman were
arrested following the shooting. He said there were "significant" number of
casualties.
There were up to 200 worshipers inside the mosques for Friday Prayers.
Witness Len Peneha told reporters a man dressed in black entered the mosque
and fired before running away before security forces arrived. Peneha said he
saw "dead people everywhere" when he entered the Al Noor mosque to help those
who were wounded.
Turkish Presidential Spokesperson Ibrahim Kalın strongly condemned the attacks
in a Twitter post and offered his condolences to the deceased. "The world
should raise its voice against anti-Muslim rhetoric to stop 'Islamophobic
fascist terrorism'," Kalın said.
"This is a reminder that a house divided cannot stand: it is time to unite
against all forms of terrorism," Turkish Presidency Communications Director
Fahrettin Altun said in statement condemning the attack.
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