Reuters
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the world still needs to hold talks about racism and white supremacy, as the country commemorates the two-year anniversary of the mosque attack.
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Ardern pointed out in a press conference that “the world needs to hold these talks,” noting that “in the wake of the attack, New Zealand had to arrange its internal home.”
“It is not fair to say that because the terrorist came from Australia, New Zealand is not responsible,” she said.
“Members of our Muslim community were suffering from some horrific racism before this attack, here in their societies,” she added, adding that “every world leader bears a responsibility as his voice can be broadcast anywhere and at any time, and states must take this into account.”
Ardern apologized last year after a royal commission of inquiry into the country’s worst massacre found that the security services were focusing almost exclusively on the perceived threat of Islamic terrorism before the attack.
When asked whether New Zealand is a safer place for Muslims now than it was two years ago, Ardern said: “I’m not the one to answer that, only our Muslim community can.”
Australian Brenton Tarrant killed 51 people and injured dozens when he opened fire on Muslim worshipers on March 15, 2019, after he issued a racist statement shortly before the attack and broadcast the shooting live on Facebook, sparking a global debate about the threat of white supremacy.
Source: Reuters
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