WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) – New Zealand celebrated the second anniversary of one of its most traumatic days on Saturday, when a white supremacist worshiper killed 51 worshipers at two mosques in Christchurch.
Several hundred people gathered at Christchurch Arena for the memorial service, which was also broadcast live. A similar service scheduled for last year was canceled at short notice due to the sudden spread of the coronavirus.
Kiran Munir, whose husband Haroon Mahmood died in the attacks, told the crowd that he had lost the love of his life and his soul mate. She said her husband was a loving father to her two children. She had just done her PhD and was waiting for her graduation ceremony when she last saw her smiling face.
“Little did I know that the next time I saw him my body and soul would not be together,” he said. “Little did I know that the darkest day in New Zealand’s history had come. That day my heart was broken into a thousand pieces, as was the heart of the other 50 families. ”
Temel Atacocugu, who survived being shot nine times during the attack on the Al Noor mosque, said the killing was caused by racism and ignorance.
“They were attacks on all of humanity,” he said.
He said survivors would never be able to clear the pain from their hearts and they would never be the same.
“However, the future is in our hands,” he said. “We will continue and be positive together.”
During the March 15, 2019 attacks, Australian Brenton Tarrant killed 44 people at Al Noor Mosque during Friday prayers before driving to 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 count of terrorism. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with no possibility of parole.
Following the attacks, New Zealand quickly passed new laws banning the deadliest types of semi-automatic weapons.
During the service, the names of each of the 51 people who died were read. The effort of first responders, including police and doctors, was also recognized.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told the crowd that when she was preparing her speech, she had lost what she had to say, because words would never change what happened.
“But while words cannot work miracles, they do have the power to heal,” he said.
The Muslim community had experienced hatred and racism even before the attacks, he said, and words should be used to change them.
“There will be an unquestionable legacy starting March 15,” Ardern said. “It simply came to our notice then. But it is never too early or too late for the legacy to be a more inclusive nation. “