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Muslim call to prayer broadcast on New Zealand radio for Christchurch massacre anniversary

Muslim call to prayer broadcast on New Zealand radio for Christchurch massacre anniversary
The Islamic call to prayer was broadcast on radio stations across New Zealand for the anniversary of the Christchurch mosque massacre, which killed 51 Muslims in March 2019.
2 min read
15 March, 2022
In March 2019 aÌýself-proclaimed white supremacist murdered 51 muslims in an attack on two mosques in Christchurch [Getty]

The wasÌýbroadcastÌýon radio stations across on Tuesday to commemorate the anniversary of the that shook the countryÌýon 15 March 2019.

Radio stationsÌýbroadcastÌýthe Adhan for the afternoon 'Dhur'ÌýprayerÌýat 1:39 pm, , to mark the time whiteÌýsupremacist Brenton TarrantÌý in shootings atÌýtwo mosques in Christchurch.

Christchurch City Council encouraged the public to "take this brief moment out of your day to tune in, listen and reflect".

"Today we remember the 51 lives lost as result of one of our cities darkest days three years ago. To everyone who was affected through loss, injury and grief, you are forever in our thoughts," Ìýon Tuesday.

The massacres took place in the city's Al-Noor Mosque and Lindwood Islamic Centre. All of Tarrant'sÌývictims were Muslim and included children, women, and the elderly.

The third anniversary of the attacks will pass without a national public remembrance event "at theÌýrequest of the bereaved families and those injured", the city council .

Instead, a number of community-led initiatives aimed at showing support for the Muslim communityÌýare set to take place.

"This year, the families and survivors have told us they no longer want... [a national] event... as a Council we will wholeheartedly support the events and initiatives that the bereaved families and injured or traumatised survivors have created, and we hope all city residents will do so as well," .

After pleading guiltyÌýto 51 charges of murder - 40 of attempted murder and one of terrorism -ÌýTarrant was without the possibility of parole in August 2020.

This marked the first time a whole-life term has been handed down in New Zealand. Last November Tarrant's lawyer Tony Ellis said the attackerÌýwas .

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