Man who survived attack on New Zealand mosque says he can forgive suspected killer
Mohan Ibn Ibrahm said he can still 'hear the sound of the gun firing'
A Muslim man who escaped the massacre at a New Zealand mosque last week says he forgives the suspected killer.
"Maybe he was lost, maybe he has made a mistake," said Mohan Ibn Ibrahm, who was at the Masjid Al-Noor, a mosque in central Christchurch at the time of the shooting.
He says he can still "hear the sound of the gun firing."
But as a Muslim who doesn't support killing, he told The Current's guest host Megan Williams, that the right thing to do is to "forgive the person."
New Zealanders gathered Friday for nationwide prayers, to mark one week since the mass shooting that killed 50 worshippers.
"It's not easy to forget at this moment. I believe it will take time to forget," said Ibrahm.
Despite these memories, he drew strength from the support he felt at events on Friday.
"We are just getting together as one community, we share one love together, we're staying strong."
Watch Mohan Ibn Ibrahm describe how the attack unfolded
To discuss how New Zealand is dealing with the events, Williams was joined by:
- Mohan Ibn Ibrahm, who survived the attack last week.
- Aliya Danzeisen, the lead co-ordinator with the Women's Organisation of the Waikato Muslim Association, a family friend of a victim of the attack.
- Bob Parker, the former mayor of Christchurch.
Click 'listen' near the top of this page to hear the full conversation.
Written by Padraig Moran. Produced by Danielle Carr and Sarah-Joyce Battersby.