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Narjas Zatat
1553012100
New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern is being praised for her decisive and strong stance against white supremacy in the wake of a shooting at two mosques that killed 50 people.
Ardern’s reaction to the national tragedy, the worst mass shooting in the history of New Zealand, has been praised. From vowing to ban semi-automatic weapons, reassuring the Muslim community that they are valued members of the country, and to focusing her attention on the victims, as opposed to giving the shooter notoriety by way of extensive media coverage.
Here are five ways world leaders can follow Ardern's example in the wake of a tragedy:
1. Immediately condemn terrorism, no matter what group it comes from
It took the New Zealand prime minister less than 24 hours after the fact to condemn the tragic attack as a terrorist attack. The New Zealand prime minister said:
He is a terrorist. He is a criminal. He is an extremist. But he will, when I speak, be nameless.
The way Theresa May handled the Grenfell Fire tragedy and the way Jacinda Ardern has handled the Christchurch terro… https://t.co/7bMYWe7yfD— John Smith (son of Harry Leslie Smith) (@John Smith (son of Harry Leslie Smith)) 1552857154
"U’ll never hear me mention his name. He is a terrorist He is a criminal He is an extremist But he’ll when I speak… https://t.co/ll6DmG928A— نسرین (@نسرین) 1553008737
2. Spend time with the communities impacted by a terror attack - no matter what
Ardern was praised across the world for the way she embraced the Muslim community following the attack. She promised to cover the funeral costs of the 50 victims, spent time with families of victims and observed the hijab in order to honour the victims.
She addressed parliament using the Muslim greeting, '"As-salamu alaykum."
As-salamu alaykum, peace be upon you, and peace be upon all of us.
NZ PM Jacinda Ardern speaks to the NZ Muslim community - speaks from the heart and with great sensitivity https://t.co/lIbbpnQXVb— omar r quraishi (@omar r quraishi) 1552751475
“Muslims are part of our community”. In Jacinda Ardern’s immediate response to the Christchurch terror attacks, she… https://t.co/31pVyIfqGj— New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade (@New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade) 1552884481
Strong leadership: New Zealand Prime Minister @jacindaardern visits grieving Muslim families, wearing hijab as a si… https://t.co/VAvfKeGYO0— Negar Mortazavi نگار مرتضوی (@Negar Mortazavi نگار مرتضوی) 1552760346
Dear @jacindaardern Words are truly inadequate to convey our sincere gratitude for how you’ve handled the… https://t.co/zWvcFSYDSg— Mariam Veiszadeh 💉💉💉 (@Mariam Veiszadeh 💉💉💉) 1552982651
3. Emphasise the victims, not the culprit
Jacinda has refused to speak the name of the attacker, and implored others to do the same. In a televised address, she said:
You will never hear me mention the name of the alleged Christchurch gunman. He is a terrorist. He is a criminal … To others, I implore you: Speak the names of those who were lost rather than the name of the man who took them.
Others have decided to do the same.
I’m with @jacindaardern His name will never pass my lips. I will erase him from history & give him no place in memo… https://t.co/koGfV8p92R— Magda Szubanski AO (@Magda Szubanski AO) 1552973892
Terrorists crave publicity. In the age of social media can notoriety truly be denied, asks @rick_n after New Zealan… https://t.co/eWratOM20V— Anna Fifield (@Anna Fifield) 1552995849
4. Take decisive and legislative action on guns
Prime minister Ardern went on to say legalisation surrounding gun control “will change” and vowed to ban private ownership of semi-automatic rifles. In response, senior officials in New Zealand government also promised to introduce gun control measures in the wake of the massacre.
People have praised her decisive action and compared it to the lack there of, in America.
After a mass shooting in New Zealand, the government announced a proposed ban on assault weapons. After dozens of m… https://t.co/PuFTYimCBe— Barbra Streisand (@Barbra Streisand) 1552850783
Now this is how you lead on #GunControl: NZ PM @JacindaArdern says, 'Our gun laws will change' within 72hrs of gun… https://t.co/GjrhaF8S5p— Sarah Wyndham (@Sarah Wyndham) 1552894479
24 hours after a mass shooting in New Zealand, they ban assault weapons. #Leadership https://t.co/MafjgRP6Vr— Linda Sarsour (@Linda Sarsour) 1552774183
New Zealand to ban semi-automatic weapons - this is what practical action beyond platitudes looks like https://t.co/LVPPcpyFIv— kristyan benedict (@kristyan benedict) 1552729268
5. Address social media and its part in disseminatingoffensive and dangerous content
She said social media needs to step up and stop pretending they can be a neutral platform:
They are the publisher not just the postman. There cannot be a case of all profit, no responsibility.
This comes after thousands of people viewed the graphic video that had been uploaded by the shooter despite pleas from leaders and the police not to share it.
WATCH: NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern vows to rein in social media platforms in a speech to parliament Tuesday: "… https://t.co/F3qbbxJRxo— CBS Evening News (@CBS Evening News) 1553009089
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