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Al Noor Mosque, Christchurch

The Al Noor Mosque (, ) is a Sunni mosque in the Christchurch suburb of Riccarton in New Zealand.[1][2] It was built between 1983 and 1985 by the Muslim Association of Canterbury, an organisation founded in 1977 that also manages the mosque building.[3][4] It was the primary target of the Christchurch mosque shootings of 15 March 2019.

History

Al Noor Mosque was founded by the Muslim Association of Canterbury. One prominent member was agricultural scientist Hanif Quazi, who at that time was working for the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research based in Lincoln.[5][6] The mosque broke ground in June 1983.[7] The main construction contract was let in July 1984 to M. L. Paynter Ltd for NZ$500,000.[8] The government of Saudi Arabia donated $460,000 towards its construction. The first Friday prayer was held in the mosque on 21 June 1985, coinciding with Eid al-Fitr.[9] It was the second mosque in New Zealand.[10]

In 2003, the Christchurch Muslim community organised a "National Māori Muslim Day" at the mosque.[11] By 2015, the mosque had 550 members.[12]

Terror attack

On 15 March 2019, the site was one of two targets in a terrorist attack at Christchurch.[13] A majority of the victims were at Al Noor: of the 51 people fatally shot and the 40 people injured overall in the attack, 44 victims died and another 35 survived gunshot wounds in the mosque.[14][15][16] The mosque reopened on 23 March.[17] The lone attacker was convicted of multiple murder, attempted murder, and terrorism charges on 2 June 2020,[18][19] and sentenced to life in prison without parole on 27 August the same year.[20][21][22]

Controversies

In 2003, controversy arose within the local Muslim community over the mosque's management. The arrival of new members of Arab and Somali origin sparked tension with the earlier members of South Asian origin, who have a different culture and have a different interpretation of Islam.[23]

In 2014, an Australian convert was alleged by his mother and stepfather that he was introduced to radical Islam at Al Noor before going to Yemen to join al-Qaeda, an allegation denied by Hisham el-Zeiny, the mosque's imam.[24][25][26][27] The president of the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand, Anwar Ghani, said that mosque officials had told a Salafi follower not to promote his views there.[28] El-Zeiny said that many Muslims were angry about US drone strikes in Yemen and that the mosque's leadership was "spending most of [its] time trying to lessen the effect."[24]

See also

  • Islam in New Zealand

External links

References

  1. Drury, A. M. (2016). Once Were Mahometans: Muslims in the South Island of New Zealand, mid-19th to late 20th century, with special reference to Canterbury (Thesis, Master of Philosophy (MPhil)). University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10289/10630^
  2. Drury, A. M. 'Mahometans on the Edge of Colonial Empire: Antipodean Experiences', Islam and Christian–Muslim. Relations, Volume 29, Issue 1, (2018), pp. 71–87. https://doi.org/10.1080/09596410.2017.1384230^
  3. Erich Kolig. New Zealand's Muslims and Multiculturalism Brill, 2009^
  4. Media Must Play a Positive Role in Bringing Communities Together: Imam Gamal of Masjid Al Noor, Christchurch Migrant Times, 4 September 2016^
  5. Zoha Shuaib. Muslim community leader calls for frank conversation on cultural attitudes Stuff, 31 May 2019, retrieved 30 May 2024^
  6. Lincoln University Bledisloe and Alumni International Medal Recipients 1930–2012 Lincoln University, retrieved 30 May 2024^
  7. Mosque started The Press, 21 June 1983^
  8. Contract for mosque signed The Press, 12 July 1984^
  9. Photos The Press, 22 June 1985^
  10. Philip Matthews. 1985: Al-Noor mosque opens Stuff, 30 April 2021, retrieved 22 April 2024^
  11. Abdullah Drury. Muslim Integration: Pluralism and Multiculturalism in New Zealand and Australia Lexington Books, 2016^
  12. Nicole Matthewson. Fighting, Killing 'Not the Muslim Way' The Press, 3 December 2015, retrieved 20 March 2019^
  13. Edoardo Liotta, James Borrowdale. Terrorism in Christchurch: One of New Zealand's 'Darkest Days' Vice, 15 March 2019, retrieved 15 March 2019^
  14. Adam Dudding, John Hartevelt. The End of Our Innocence Stuff, 15 March 2019, retrieved 17 March 2019^
  15. Nick Perry, Juliet Williams. Mourners Pay Tribute to New Zealand Victims, Await Burials Associated Press, 17 March 2019^
  16. Kurt Bayer, Anna Leasl. Christchurch mosque terror attack sentencing: Gunman Brenton Tarrant planned to attack three mosques New Zealand Herald, 24 August 2020, retrieved 24 August 2020^
  17. Isaac Davison. Al Noor and Linwood mosques re-open a week after massacre The New Zealand Herald, news.com.au, 23 March 2019, retrieved 13 November 2019^
  18. Mark Quinlivan, Heather McCarron. Christchurch shooting: Alleged gunman Brenton Tarrant's trial delayed Newshub, retrieved 2 January 2020^
  19. Man accused of Christchurch mosque shootings pleads not guilty to 51 murder charges Stuff, 14 June 2019, retrieved 13 June 2019^
  20. https://www.courtsofnz.govt.nz/assets/cases/R-v-Tarrant-sentencing-remarks-20200827.pdf 27 August 2020^
  21. Mariné Lourens. Christchurch mosque gunman jailed 'until his last gasp' Stuff, 27 August 2020, retrieved 27 August 2020^
  22. New Zealand mosque shooter given life in prison for 'wicked' crimes Reuters, 27 August 2020, retrieved 27 August 2020^
  23. Erich Kolig. New Zealand's Muslims and Multiculturalism Brill, 2009^
  24. Dominique Schwartz. Australian Killed in Yemen Drone Strike Not Radicalised in New Zealand, Says Muslim Preacher ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), 4 June 2014^
  25. Tony Wall, Blair Ensor, Andrea Vance. A Kiwi Lad's Death by Drone Sunday Star-Times, 27 July 2014^
  26. Christchurch Mosque Linked to al-Qaida Suspect Newshub, 4 June 2014^
  27. Hisham el Zeiny. Chrischurch [sic] Imam Responds RNZ Checkpoint, Radio New Zealand, 4 June 2014^
  28. Blair Ensor, Tony Wall, Andrea Vance. Suspected Terrorist's Brother Rebuked The Press, 28 July 2014^