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New Zealand Muslims object to mosque attack film while pain still raw

New Zealand Muslims object to mosque attack film while pain still raw

The film They Are Us will focus on Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's response to the attacks.
11 Jun, 2021

New Zealand Muslims objected on Friday to a plan for a film about the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings in which a gunman killed 51 people, saying the attack was still too raw for grieving families and their community.

The film, titled They Are Us, will focus on the response by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to the attacks on two mosques by a white supremacist on March 15, 2019, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

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

“There are still many sensitivities around the tragic events,” Abdigani Ali, spokesman for the Muslim Association of Canterbury said in a statement.

“Although recognition of our prime minister for her response to attacks is well deserved, we question the timing and whether a movie is appropriate right now? The terrorist attack is still raw for our community.”

Ardern has distanced herself from the project with her office saying she and the government have no involvement with it.

Australian actress Rose Byrne is set to play Ardern in the film, the Hollywood Reporter said, and New Zealander Andrew Niccol would write and direct it.

They Are Us was not so much about the attack but the response to it, Niccol was quoted as telling the Hollywood Reporter, which described the film an “inspirational story about the young leader’s response to the tragic events”.

But some Muslims questioned that focus.

“This is not an inspiring story,” said Mohamed Hassan, a journalist and poet based in Auckland, said in a commentary broadcast on Radio New Zealand.

“It is a tragedy, one that must always be centred around the Muslim victims and their families. No one else.”

TheyAreUsShutDown was trending on Twitter in New Zealand.

Ali said he recognised the story of the shootings needed to be told but said it should be done so in an appropriate, authentic and sensitive way.

“There needs to be a lot of work done in New Zealand in terms of hate speech laws, recognising Islamophobia does exist in our society and the institutional prejudice within our government apparatus before a blockbuster film comes out stating that we’ve done a great job here in New Zealand,” he said.

Comments

Chrís Dăn Jun 11, 2021 01:38pm
Now it is simply an hyper-reaction.
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Toni Jun 11, 2021 01:41pm
We don't need to sensationalise innocent deaths, good deeds of NZPM have already been acknowledged, the subject is private and no postmortem is needed; Muslims don't need any additional acknowledgment of the Abhorrent Terrorist act through a film. Money making is not necessary and story telling of death is a painful reminder, which is not necessary and its a worship of humans and film actors (reviews), instead of practical steps to avoid a repeat.
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Tariq Jun 11, 2021 01:57pm
I think much should be focus as what trigger these people to do madness and where the problem lies and what should have to done to curb such tendencies.
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Ahmed khan lehri Jun 11, 2021 02:22pm
Instead of curbing such incidents and stopping them from happening in future, self projection by the PM is in inappropriate.
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Chrís Dăn Jun 11, 2021 02:24pm
@Toni it was not a private matter. It was a tragedy at national level ofNew Zealand.
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Ahmed khan lehri Jun 11, 2021 02:24pm
The terrorist is still alive but self projection has started. First make an example of that white terrorist by hanging him then go for projection, please.
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THE Jun 11, 2021 02:38pm
This is only a money making attempt while no would really cares about the victims.
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raheel Jun 11, 2021 04:03pm
Gimmick to make politicians of new Zealand has heroes when it was the community that fought the Australian terrorist after his butchered innocent civilians.
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Kiwi Jun 11, 2021 04:49pm
Well it is a touchy subject for us Muslims living here in New Zealand. The film is going to be made and we in New Zealand cannot stop it. It will be difficult for Muslims in New Zealand to watch this movie.
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Swiss Neutral Jun 11, 2021 05:42pm
While it is important to respect feelings, it is also important to spread awareness
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Irfan Huq Jun 11, 2021 06:15pm
No one has read the story the film is not yet made. There has been many tragedies and attacks on muslims and the mosques around the world. This tragedy is remembered by most of the people in the world because of Lucinda Arden's response. The time to tell the story is now few years from now people would have forgotten. the movie is going to be made anyway so our response should be measured calculated and after knowing the facts
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kp Jun 11, 2021 06:39pm
Just one question, Did you ever saw PMIK visiting the places of attacked minorities? be is Ahmadis , Sikhs or Christians? Did you ever saw him accepting the wrongdoings like New zealand PM did?
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RationalBabu Jun 11, 2021 08:39pm
@kp That’s the difference between Pakistan and New Zealand. That’s why people migrate from Pakistan to New Zealand and never the other way round!
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Nk Jun 11, 2021 08:50pm
"An hyper reaction"?Are you serious?
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Syed Jun 11, 2021 11:23pm
Very important to show the world what happened, by hiding it, you are helping conceal the hate groups? When will our community ever make any sense? You are opposing this? We should be all contributing to its making. Amazing....
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Syed Jun 11, 2021 11:25pm
@Ahmed khan lehri a foolish response, we need to spread the tragedy, so the world knows our pain, instead of hiding it, you are saying the opposite of what should be done.
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Syed Jun 11, 2021 11:27pm
@Toni what are you talking about? Give credit to the producer, who is going to let the world know what happened, this was a tragedy for not just Muslims but all New Zealand. As a Muslim I support this movie, I want it to expose the various hate groups/Terrorists in the West. We should be supporting this.
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Anonymouseee Jun 12, 2021 02:36am
I agree. This film sounds like focusing on a completely different point than what it deserves. Please find naked money off of such tragedies.
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Asif A. Shah Jun 12, 2021 04:17am
Jacinda Ardern deserves to be known as an inspirational leader.
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LgbtqX Jun 12, 2021 04:53pm
it is a good idea to bring this in to lime light.
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Nick Gur Jun 12, 2021 07:55pm
Are they hiding something in this pretext?
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RationalBabu Jun 13, 2021 03:54pm
It would seem only Muslims are entitled to feel pain!
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babar khan Jun 13, 2021 07:32pm
What about coverage of the treatment of non-muslims in muslim countries? I wish they display the same outrage for that too!
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harry Jun 15, 2021 03:28pm
All Muslims should leave New Zealand. That would be the appropriate response to that country.
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