The Christchurch gunman’s surprise guilty plea makes him the first person convicted of terrorism in New Zealand. A legal expert explains what will happen next in the sentencing process.
71-year-old grandfather Haji-Daoud Nabi, who was shot as he welcomed a stranger to his mosque.
Haji-Daoud Nabi was a lifelong friend, who helped inspire my research in Afghanistan on how violent events shape people’s sense of community. I never thought my work would one day apply at home in NZ.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and French President Emmanuel Macron launched the Christchurch Call initiative in Paris in May 2019.
EPA/Yoan Valat
The US, Russia and China haven’t backed the NZ-led Christchurch Call to crackdown on online extremism. Without them, and key non-western media, the initiative is unlikely to make enough difference.
My assessment is that there are about 150 to 300 core right-wing activists in New Zealand. This might sound modest – but proportionate to population, it’s similar to extremist numbers in Germany.
Members of the public mourn at a makeshift memorial following the Christchurch mosque attacks in March 2019.
AAP/David Alexander
In the wake of last year’s Christchurch mosque attacks, New Zealand’s intelligence agencies must become more transparent in their reporting on the risk of right-wing terrorism.
New Zealand’s PM Jacinda Ardern, police minister Stuart Nash (right) and the minister for Christchurch regeneration Megan Woods announcing stronger gun laws and the creation of a firearms registry.
AAP/David Alexander
A register of all firearms is part of the next stage of New Zealand’s gun law reform, following the Christchurch mosque shootings.
In a recent survey, New Zealand gun owners reported more trust in other gun owners than people who don’t own guns, but lower levels of trust in the pro-gun lobby.
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Through his lawyer, the alleged perpetrator of the Christchurch mosque attacks has entered not guilty pleas on 92 charges, including terrorism. A procedural hearing has found him fit to stand trial.
The man accused of the Christchurch mosque attacks faces charges of murder, attempted murder and of committing a terrorism act.
Martin Hunter/AAP
An additional charge of terrorism has been laid against the man accused of the Christchurch mosque shootings. This poses a risk of providing a platform for hateful ideas.
A gunman killed worshippers at the Al Noor and Linwood mosques in Christchurch on 15 March.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
Before proceedings against the alleged perpetrator of the Christchurch terror attacks can go ahead, the court will have to establish whether he is fit to stand trial.
The gunman in the mosque attacks had already faced 50 murder charges before a new terrorism charge was brought against him this week.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
New Zealand’s terrorism law has never been prosecuted successfully since it was enacted nearly 20 years ago. So, why are prosecutors bringing a terrorism charge against the Christchurch shooter?
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and French President Emmanuel Macron at the “Christchurch Call” summit, which delivered an agreement signed by tech companies and world leaders.
EPA/Charles Platiau
While the “Christchurch Call” summit has made concrete progress, we need to keep up the pressure on social media companies to become more transparent and accountable.
As part of the New Zealand government’s response to the Christchurch mosque attacks, a Royal Commission of Inquiry will investigate the specific circumstances leading up to it.
AAP/Joseph Johnson
A Royal commission of inquiry has been set up to look into circumstances that led to the Christchurch mosque attacks. It will investigate intelligence services, it not the role of media.
New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern wore a headscarf to comfort mourning family members after the Christchurch mosque shootings.
AP Photo/Vincent Thian, File
After the Christchurch mosque shootings, New Zealand’s prime minister didn’t start a war on terror. She covered her head, cried, paid for funerals and passed gun control. Is it because she’s a woman?
Prince William visited Al Noor mosque in Christchurch and met survivors of the attack.
Joseph Johnson/AAP
Hanlie Booysen, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
New Zealand’s response to the Christchurch mosque attacks is seen as a new way of reacting to violent extremism. The challenge now is how to translate domestic cohesion into foreign policy.
Muslim clerics and members of the Pakistani Christian minority light candles to commemorate the victims of this week’s bomb blasts in Sri Lanka. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Rahat Dar/AAP
For centuries, Westerners viewed Islam as an inherently violent religion. But the struggle today, for all religions, including Christianity, is between liberals and conservatives, fundamentalists and moderates, reason and revelation.
Pierre Bayle said all peoples’ beliefs and rituals should be tolerated out of respect for their fundamental humanity.
Joshua Earle/Unsplash
Chair in Global Islamic Politics, Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation; Scholar -In-Residence Asia Society Australia, Deakin University