The shootings at two mosques in New Zealand, which claimed the lives of 49 people and left 20 injured, have been blamed on the rise in Islamophobia.
WuzupNaija reports that a gunman, who identified himself as a 28-year-old Australian called Brenton Tarrant, live-streamed footage of him firing indiscriminately at men, women and children from close range inside the Al-Noor mosque, in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Social media users across the world who were saddened by the terror attack, blamed racism and fear of the rise in Islam for the terror attack.
Some social media users took to Twitter after the attack to condole with the victims and also condemn the act.
Nancy Patricia Pelosi, speaker of the United States House of Representatives condemned the attack via her Twitter page, she wrote:
“We mourn the loss of 49 lives cut short in the horrific act of violence in Christchurch, New Zealand. Islamophobia and such acts of pure hatred have no place in a civilized world.”
A Lebanese-Canadian poet, Najwa Zebian wrote:
“New Zealand, I grieve you today. All of our hearts are with you. The more I read, the more I cry for our humanity. 49 innocent lives mercilessly taken for no other reason than their religion. Call it what it is- Islamophobia. Terrorism has no religion. Hatred has no religion.”
An American actor, Eugene Lee Yang also wrote on Twitter:
“The
#NZMosqueShooting is a horrific act of terrorism towards innocent Muslim people. Anti-immigration, Islamophobia, and racism when preached or joked about online or in office can fuel real-life, murderous hatred. If your reaction isn’t condemnation, you are feeding the problem.”
A member of the British parliament, Diane Abbott also lent her voice to the condemnation of the attack, she wrote
“Deepest sympathies to the people of New Zealand following this horrendous terrorist attack.
#WeStandTogether against Islamophobia and all forms of racism and extremist hatred that have far too often led to the murder of innocent people”
See the tweets;
the shooter said he was concerned with the increasing number of Muslims in New Zealand’s population, he said he didn’t want Muslims ‘conquering’..
the Muslim population in NZ is less than 2%, this was just straight up Islamophobia, racism and a terrorist act. nothing less.
— cherry baby (@sarareijojo) March 15, 2019
Not only am I still shocked & saddened by what happened in New Zealand but am so fucking outraged seeing right wing media & politicians saying “thoughts & prayers” when they’re part to blame by using rhetoric that emboldens & normalises Islamophobia & supports white supremacists!
— ?MΛG!D (@MagicMagid) March 15, 2019
If the tragedy in #Christchurch does not sicken you deeply, you are truly a troubled being. Islamophobia is a very real problem, and has been for a while! It took 49 people being senselessly murdered in their place of worship to get the worlds attention. This is TERRORISM!!!
— Jordan Jean (@jordanjeanjess) March 15, 2019
