WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) – New Zealand marked the second anniversary of one of its most traumatic days on Saturday, when 51 faithful were killed in two mosques in Christchurch by an armed man of white supremacy.
Hundreds of people gathered at the Christchurch Arena for the memory service, which was also broadcast live. A similar service planned for last year was canceled in the short term due to the sudden spread of the coronavirus.
Kiran Munir, whose husband Haroon Mahmood was killed in the attacks, told the crowd that she had lost the love of her life and her soul mate. She said her husband was a loving father to her two children. He had just finished his doctorate and was looking forward to his graduation ceremony when she last saw his smiling face.
“I hardly knew that the next time I saw him, the body and the soul would not be together,” she said. “I hardly knew that the darkest day in New Zealand’s history had dawned. That day, my heart broke into a thousand pieces, as did the hearts of 50 other families. “
Temel Atacocugu, who survived nine shots during the attack on the Al Noor mosque, said the massacre was caused by racism and ignorance.
“They were attacks on all of humanity,” he said.
He said that the survivors would never be able to erase the pain in their hearts and would never be the same.
“However, the future is in our hands,” he said. “We will continue and be positive together.”
In the March 15, 2019 attacks, Australian Brenton Tarrant killed 44 people at the Al Noor mosque during Friday prayers before driving to the Linwood mosque, where he killed seven more.
Last year, Tarrant, 30, pleaded guilty to 51 counts of murder, 40 counts of attempted murder and one charge of terrorism. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
After the attacks, New Zealand quickly passed new laws banning the most lethal types of semi-automatic weapons.
During the service, the names of each of the 51 people killed were read. The efforts of first responders, including police and doctors, were also recognized.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told the crowd that, in preparing her speech, she did not know what to say because words would never change what happened.
“But while words don’t work miracles, they have the power to heal,” she said.
The Muslim community experienced hatred and racism even before the attacks, she said, and words should be used for change.
“There will be an unquestionable legacy from March 15,” said Ardern. “A lot of that will be heartbreaking. But it is never too early or too late for the legacy of being a more inclusive nation. “