New Zealand media to broadcast the adhan on Friday

(Patria) - New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stated in an interview with Al Jazeera that immediately after the attacks on two mosques last Friday, she began working to ensure a safe environment for Muslims in New Zealand mosques.

She added that the country's media will broadcast the adhan on Friday, and a commemoration will be held for the victims of the massacre in which fifty people were killed and nearly as many wounded.

"The Christchurch massacre is an individual act of terrorism that is shocking, targeting New Zealanders who gathered for prayer in a safe place," Ardern told Al Jazeera in her first media interview.

 

 

The official strongly condemned the ideology of the Christchurch attacker, which she said is unacceptable.

When asked about returning the bodies of the massacre victims to their families, Ardern stated that the authorities consider it their priority, adding: "We are aware of Islamic teachings regarding the burial of the deceased and are cooperating with leaders of the Islamic community to respect the wishes of the victims' families."

ADHAN AND COMMEMORATION

The New Zealand official said that her country's media will broadcast the adhan on Friday, one week after the massacre, and that two minutes of silence will be observed for the victims, followed by a commemoration expected to be attended by leaders from around the world.

Ardern admitted that there is a minority in New Zealand that shares the same ideology as the perpetrator of the massacre, even though he is an Australian citizen, emphasizing that the authorities will take responsibility for preserving New Zealand's reputation as a peaceful and inclusive nation.

The New Zealand Prime Minister added that her relationship with the victims' families, with whom she shared their pain and grief, is one of the fundamental values of New Zealand society, aiming to counter the far-right or any ideology contrary to the values of the New Zealand people, which reject violence and radicalism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE TERRORIST

Prime Minister Ardern explained that she described the attacker as a terrorist from the very first moment, as what he did was a deliberate and direct act of terrorism against Muslims in the country, which is why it was an appropriate description of such events.

She stressed that her government will amend gun ownership laws due to loopholes that were exploited to carry out the massacre at the two mosques.

She added that New Zealand residents who legally own firearms will support the amendment of this law.