Al Noor Mosque, Christchurch
The Al Noor Mosque (Arabic: مسجد النور, Masjid al-Noor) is a Sunni mosque in the Christchurch suburb of Riccarton in New Zealand.[1][2]
| Al Noor Mosque | |
|---|---|
مسجد النور | |
 Al Noor Mosque in August 2019 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Sunni Islam |
| Location | |
| Location | Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand |
  Location in Christchurch | |
| Geographic coordinates | 43°31′58.6″S 172°36′42.2″E / 43.532944°S 172.611722°E |
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 first target of the Christchurch mosque shootings in 15 March 2019.
History
changeThe mosque began to be built in June 1983.[5] The government of Saudi Arabia donated $460,000 towards the building of the mosque.[6] The first Friday prayer was held on 21 June 1985 during Eid al-Fitr.[7] It was the second mosque built in New Zealand.[8]
In 2003, the Christchurch Muslim community organised a "National Māori Muslim Day" at the mosque.[9] In 2015, the mosque had 550 members.[6]
Mass shooting
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On 15 March 2019, the mosque was one of two mosques targeted in a terrorist attack in Christchurch.[10] Most of the victims were at Al Noor Mosque: out the 51 people shot and killed overall in the attacks, 44 were killed at Al Noor and out of the 40 people injured, 35 were at Al Noor.[11][12][13] The mosque was closed for eight days and reopened on 23 March.[14] The terrorist, Brenton Tarrant, was convicted of multiple murder, attempted murder, and terrorism charges on 2 June 2020,[15][16] and sentenced to 52 life sentences with out the chance of parole plus 480 years on 27 August the same year.[17][18][19]
Controversies
changeIn 2003, new members from Arab countries and Somalia had some disagreements with the earlier members who were from South Asia. This was because they have a different culture and a different interpretation of Islam.[20]
In 2014, the mother and stepfather of an Australian converted Muslim said that he was introduced to Islamic extremism at Al Noor before going to Yemen to join al-Qaeda, an allegation denied by Hisham el-Zeiny, the mosque's imam.[21][22][23][24]
References
change- ↑ 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
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Kolig, Erich (2009). New Zealand's Muslims and Multiculturalism. Brill. p. 33. ISBN 978-90-474-4070-3.
The Canterbury Muslim Association (MAC) was established in Christchurch in 1977 … and was able to build a mosque … in 1985. In recent years, for a while, it was seriously disrupted by internal wrangling over the management of the mosque and centre.
- ↑ "Media Must Play a Positive Role in Bringing Communities Together: Imam Gamal of Masjid Al Noor, Christchurch". Migrant Times. Christchurch, NZ. 4 September 2016. Archived from the original on 18 March 2019.
This mosque – Masjid Al Noor – is managed by MAC.
- ↑ "Mosque started". The Press. 21 June 1983. p. 1.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Matthewson, Nicole (3 December 2015). "Fighting, Killing 'Not the Muslim Way'". The Press. Christchurch, NZ. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
Jackson, of the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies … said … 'Just because they were attending a mosque at the time, doesn't mean the mosque was connected.' … Morris, a specialist in world religions, said … 'It creates an opportunity for these issues to be raised and addressed.'
- ↑ "Photos". The Press. 22 June 1985. p. 1.
- ↑ Matthews, Philip (30 April 2021). "1985: Al-Noor mosque opens". Stuff. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ↑ Drury, Abdullah (2016). "Islam's History and Integration in the New Zealand Society: A Convert's View". In Kolig, Erich; Voyce, Malcolm (eds.). Muslim Integration: Pluralism and Multiculturalism in New Zealand and Australia. Lexington Books. p. 122. ISBN 978-1-4985-4354-5.
- ↑ Liotta, Edoardo; Borrowdale, James (15 March 2019). "Terrorism in Christchurch: One of New Zealand's 'Darkest Days'". Vice. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
- ↑ Dudding, Adam; Hartevelt, John (15 March 2019). "The End of Our Innocence". Stuff.co.nz. Archived from the original on 20 March 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
By now, 41 people were dead or dying, and a similar number had been injured.… Hundreds of mourners gathered at the Deans Avenue mosque.
- ↑ Perry, Nick; Williams, Juliet (17 March 2019). "Mourners Pay Tribute to New Zealand Victims, Await Burials". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 17 March 2019.
- ↑ Bayer, Kurt; Leasl, Anna (24 August 2020). "Christchurch mosque terror attack sentencing: Gunman Brenton Tarrant planned to attack three mosques". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
- ↑ Davison, Isaac (23 March 2019). "Al Noor and Linwood mosques re-open a week after massacre". NZ Herald. news.com.au. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
- ↑ Quinlivan, Mark; McCarron, Heather. "Christchurch shooting: Alleged gunman Brenton Tarrant's trial delayed". Newshub. Archived from the original on 13 June 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
- ↑ "Man accused of Christchurch mosque shootings pleads not guilty to 51 murder charges". Stuff. 14 June 2019. Archived from the original on 24 July 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
- ↑ R v Tarrant, 2020 NZHC 2192 (Christchurch High Court 27 August 2020).
- ↑ Lourens, Mariné (27 August 2020). "Christchurch mosque gunman jailed 'until his last gasp'". Stuff. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
- ↑ "New Zealand mosque shooter given life in prison for 'wicked' crimes". Reuters. 27 August 2020. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
- ↑ Kolig, Erich (2009). New Zealand's Muslims and Multiculturalism. Brill. pp. 225, 227. ISBN 978-90-474-4070-3.
'Fundamentalists' and 'Moderates' Fighting over the Christchurch Mosque and Halal Meat… In 2003, an argument over the control of the Al-Noor mosque in Christchurch led to warnings in the popular press of alleged links to terrorism and Islamic extremism among some factions within the Muslim community.
- ↑ Schwartz, Dominique (4 June 2014). "Australian Killed in Yemen Drone Strike Not Radicalised in New Zealand, Says Muslim Preacher". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). Sydney.
A Muslim preacher in New Zealand has denied suggestions an Australian man killed in Yemen was radicalised at a Christchurch mosque.… Havard's mother Bronwyn Dowrick and step-father Neill Dowrick told 7.30 their troubled son … had encountered radical Islam after moving to New Zealand.
- ↑ Wall, Tony; Ensor, Blair; Vance, Andrea (27 July 2014). "A Kiwi Lad's Death by Drone". Sunday Star-Times. Auckland. Archived from the original on 27 July 2014.
[Daryl] Jones was killed alongside Australian Christopher Havard, whose parents said he was introduced to radical Islam at the Al-Noor mosque in Christchurch. Mosque leaders confirmed Havard stayed there and studied in 2011, but denied radical teaching took place.
- ↑ "Christchurch Mosque Linked to al-Qaida Suspect". Newshub. Auckland. 4 June 2014.
His parents … say their son told them he was first taught radical Islam at the Al Noor mosque…. '[He was] no different than other people,' says mosque president Mohamed Jama. 'He was a normal man.'
- ↑ Ensor, Blair; Wall, Tony; Vance, Andrea (28 July 2014). "Suspected Terrorist's Brother Rebuked". The Press. Christchurch, NZ.
Nathan Jones … objected to what the speaker was telling the congregation and heckled him, Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand president Dr Anwar Ghani told Fairfax Media.… '[Jones was] told that … if you have those views [then] keep it to yourself – we don't want to hear it here.
Other websites
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- Muslim Association of Canterbury Archived 2020-10-10 at the Wayback Machine