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Christchurch mosque attack survivor talks of the art of forgiveness

Published

3 years ago

August 8, 2023

Outside a small brick home in the Christchurch suburb of Hoon Hay, the word ‘peace’ is spelled out in large white capital letters on five rocks.

It is a familiar slogan, drawing on a long history of anti-war protests, but for Farid Ahmed, it is an aspiration born out of personal and community tragedy.

Four years and four months ago, Ahmed’s words of peace and forgiveness echoed across the world after his wife, Husna Ahmed, was one of 51 worshippers killed in the shootings at the Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre on 15 March 2019.

Two weeks later, he addressed a crowd of around 23,000 people at the National Remembrance Service in Hagley Park.

“I don’t want to have a heart that is boiling like a volcano,” he said.

“That’s why I have chosen peace. I have chosen love and I have forgiven.”

Ahmed’s message of forgiveness spread across the globe. He has meet with world leaders, been honoured with an international peace award while speaking at the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies, and continues to call for peace on the global stage.

As he tells Frank Film, “I had never imagined that one word is so powerful – forgiveness. Forgiveness is the result of just common sense. If we just question ourselves, what is going to benefit me in the future? Anger or forgiveness?”

Ahmed’s path to forgiveness, however, began long before that fateful day in 2019.

Farid Ahmed was born in 1962 in a village in Bangladesh, one of six children.

He learned English from a young age and studied engineering at the Sylhet Polytechnic Institute. He arrived in New Zealand in December 1988 at the age of 26. Unable to use his engineering qualification, he studied towards a qualification as a homeopath.

On moving to Nelson, marriage was on his mind. He had his heart set on Husne Ara Tajmin, a young woman from the Zangal Hata village.

Despite losing her mother when she was only eight months old, and her father around 11 or 12, she was resilient, says Ahmed, a confident young woman, a good sportsperson with an infectious smile.

“She had many marriage proposals but nothing was clicking.”

His parents asked him to return to Bangladesh to marry but, concerned for his own safety, Ahmed asked that she be allowed to travel to New Zealand, on the understanding, he says, that they would marry “the day she arrives.”

Even as her family hesitated, the young bride-to-be told her parents, “I want to go”.

They were married in Auckland in 1994. After they were married, he writes in his 2020 book, Husna’s Story, “we decided her name would be Husna Ahmed.”

Two days later, they moved down to Nelson.

“We blended just straight away,” he says.

“We were a happy family. We felt that we were blessed by one another.”

Tragedy struck on the morning of 23 February 1998.

Ahmed was walking to work when a young drunk driver, travelling at 100 kilometres an hour in an 80km zone, careered towards him.

“Then what happened I do not know.”

Observers said he was thrown into the air. He fell on to the windscreen and rolled on to the street – in panic, the driver ran over him. When he woke up in Nelson Hospital, he was told he would never walk again.

“It was like a bomb. All my life I was playing and running, and suddenly when I hear that I was not able to walk again – disbelief, shock, disappointment.”

As his condition worsened he was flown to Christchurch Hospital where he was given a 7 percent chance of survival.

As he writes, a doctor told his wife to “go home and find another husband”. But Husna Ahmed did not give up on him.

“She wept, but she was not broken”.

Ahmed was in Burwood Hospital for more than five months, suffering from a broken back, broken legs, chest injuries and concussion.

By the fourth month, he was gaining strength. He attributes his survival to the doctors, homeopathy and the love and extraordinary forgiveness of his wife.

As she told Ahmed, the young man who nearly killed him “must have had a bad day, the poor guy”.

In December, the couple moved permanently to Christchurch and in 2004 their daughter, Shifa, was born.

Ahmed’s lesson in forgiveness would be given its most severe test when, just before 1pm on 15 March, he and his wife parked outside the mosque on Deans Avenue.

Ahmed headed to the main room of the mosque, while his wife went to the women’s room.

It was the last time they would see each other.

Sunlight now stripes the floor where Ahmed greeted a sick friend on his way to the main room.

That’s when he heard the sound of shooting.

“People started running out. Two of the doors were jammed with people trying to flee. I was basically getting ready for my last moments, because I realised that I could not escape.”

Eventually he was able to push himself out, fearing he would be shot from behind. When he went back inside, he found the women’s room empty.

“That gave me instant relief – she was alive somewhere out there.”

He was outside, still waiting for his wife, when he was told she was no longer alive.

As he wrote in his book, the pain “hit me like a wall of wind”.

He later learned she had re-entered the mosque three times to help the injured and look for her husband.

“She could have run away, she didn’t. And that I can never forget.”

Ahmed recalls the words he said to his daughter later that day.

“We have two options. Be broken down, be miserable, or be resilient and move forward. Which path should we take? She said…” Ahmed pushes his hand forward in a gesture of advancement.

Like so many who lost family members that day, Ahmed still feels the acute loss of his wife.

“Life without her is … not full. I could take the path of depression because I miss her, but I remember her and her memory is inspiring me to contribute. Definitely I am optimistic. Life is still beautiful. The world is beautiful, the sun is shining. There are a lot of things to be thankful about.”

It is this strength, says Gamal Fouda, Imam at the Al Noor mosque, that four years ago set the scene for forgiveness and peace.

“It is a very extraordinary message and he is an extraordinary man.”

RNZ

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Police say person who fired gun at officers still at large

Published

3 days ago

November 12, 2026

News Staff

Police say a person who fired a gun at officers in Napier is still at large.

Eastern District Commander Superintendent Joel Lamb said Police tried to stop a vehicle in the Pirimai Area at about 10pm on Tuesday.

He said someone in the back seat pointed what was presumed to be a firearm at officers pursuing the vehicle.

“Staff have then heard two distinct gunshots as the firearm was discharged.

“Fortunately, neither of our officers were injured, and the patrol vehicle did not sustain any damage.”

He said hours later, the vehicle was seen travelling north on the Waikato Expressway towards Auckland.

Police seized the vehicle at an address in Manurewa, but they had not found the alleged offender.

Lamb said people who lived at the Manurewa address were engaging with Police.

He said Eastern District and Counties Manukau Police were making enquiries.

“Presenting a firearm at a Police officer is a serious escalation that puts our staff and the wider community at risk. This behaviour is entirely unacceptable.

“We are taking this incident extremely seriously and will be pursuing all lines of enquiry to locate the offender and hold them accountable.”

Police asked anyone who witnessed the incident to contact Police on 105 or online using the reference number 261111/3764.

Information could also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

rnz

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New Zealand sides named for RLWC finals

Published

4 days ago

November 11, 2026

News Staff

The players tasked with ending Australia’s Rugby League World Cup dominance have been named.

The Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns have announced their squads for this Sunday’s World Cup finals in Brisbane.

Both sides are chasing their first titles since 2008, and both are looking to end their opponents run of three crowns in a row.

“Our Kiwi Ferns have been so dominant in years gone by, and we want to bring dominance back to this jersey, so I think it will be a case of who wants it more,” said co-captain Georgia Hale of the impending clash.

The Kiwis get a major boost for the final as they welcome back Ronaldo Mulitalo after he served a one-match ban for a high tackle against Fiji Bati.

Mulitalo replaces Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who moves to the six-man bench, which again includes utility Te Maire Martin, middle forwards Naufahu Whyte, Erin Clark and Xavier Willison plus fullback Keano Kini.

Loose forward Joseph Tapine will make his 30th Test appearance in a familiar pack again, including second-rowers Isaiah Papali’i and Briton Nikora, and props James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota.

Winger Jamayne Isaako is on the cusp of claiming the New Zealand record for most Test points.

His five goals against Tonga lifted his career points tally to 225 – level with Shaun Johnson – while centre Casey McLean goes into the final with 16 tries in just eight Tests.

Fisher-Harris will again captain the team.

Fullback Ponga said the goal of the group was clear.

“We have high expectations around what we want to achieve, and obviously winning a world Cup is one of them.”

Meanwhile, Ricky Henry has selected a settled side to take on the Jillaroos, led by their lethal centre combination of Stacey Waaka and Mele Hufanga.

Veteran Apii Nicholls takes the number one jersey, Leianne Tufuga and Mackenzie Wiki on the wings.

Henry has stuck with his halves pairing of Chantay Kiria-Ratu and Raecene McGregor with Alexis Tauaneai, Georgia Hale and Otesa Pule up front.

Rounding out the starting pack is Shaniece Monschau, Kaiyah Atai, and Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.

“We have been building well throughout the tournament; we understand the Jillaroos side, and will give it our all to make New Zealand proud this weekend,” said Henry.

RLWC Finals:

Kiwi Ferns vs Jillaroos- 6.10pm

Kiwis vs Kangaroos – 9.35pm

Sunday November 15

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Live blog updates on RNZ

Kiwi Ferns:

1. Apii Nicholls 2. Leianne Tufuga 3. Mele Hufanga 4. Stacey Waaka 5. Mackenzie Wiki 6. Chantay Kiria-Ratu 7. Raecene McGregor 8. Alexis Tauaneai 9. Georgia Hale 10. Otesa Pule 11. Shaniece Monschau 12. Kaiyah Atai 13. Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.

Interchange: 14. Ashleigh Quinlan 15. Annessa Biddle 16. Shannon Mato 17. Ivana Lauitiiti.

Reserves: 18. Brooke Anderson 19. Zahara Temara 20. Brianna Clark 21. Abigail Roache 22. Tenika Willison.

Kiwis:

1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Casey McLean, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. James Fisher-Harris (c), 9. Jeremy Marshall-King, 10. Moses Leota, 11. Isaiah Papali’i, 12. Briton Nikora, 13. Joseph Tapine (v/c).

Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin, 15. Naufahu Whyte, 16. Erin Clark, 17. Xavier Willison.

Reserves: 18. Keano Kini, 19. Phoenix Crossland, 20. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 21. Scott Sorensen, 22. Leo Thompson.

rnz

Latest News

Parliamentary Service working on extra chairs and offices for increased number of MPs

Published

4 days ago

November 11, 2026

News Staff

The chief executive of the Parliamentary Service is confident there will be enough room to accommodate the increased number of MPs and their staff coming into Parliament.

On current numbers, up to 131 MPs could be sitting in the Chamber following the election, brought on by a record overhang result.

Clerk of the House of Representatives Dr David Wilson told the Spinoff that currently the debating chamber had enough chairs to seat 124 MPs – including the Speaker of the House – and work was being done to accommodate more by altering the seating arrangement.

In a statement, Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero said planning for a larger Parliament had been going for “some time”.

“Now that the election results have confirmed an increase to the number of members we are looking at several options.

“We are confident we will be able to accommodate all members within the Chamber.”

Chief Executive of the Parliamentary Service Rafael Gonzalez-Montero appears before select committee. — Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero.

VNP / Phil Smith

Gonzalez-Montero said office accommodation for members and their staff would be “stretched” for a short time, but the new Members’ Building was only a few months away from “practical completion”.

That building – located behind Parliament – was due to be ready to occupy in April next year and had capacity to accommodate around 30 backbench MPs.

“All members should be in fit-for-purpose accommodation from that point,” Gonzalez-Montero said.

Following the 2023 election, 123 MPs sat in the Chamber – a record number at the time. That decreased to 122 following the resignation of National MP Judith Collins.

Collins held the seat of Papakura and stepped down in May and Parliament voted against holding a by-election because it was too close to the election.

The election result also meant high-ranking National Party MPs like Chris Bishop, Paul Goldsmith, Nicola Willis and Gerry Brownlee – Speaker of the House and an MP for 30 years – would likely not make it back into Parliament.

Only resigning or retiring MPs were permitted to give a valedictory speech meaning none of them would get the chance to give a valedictory statement.

Asked if their would be special allowances for valedictories, Wilson said in a statement that normally only MPs were allowed to speak in the House but the House could suspend its own rules or temporarily alter them.

“It could do so to allow former members to address the House.”

Wilson said no such arrangements could be made until the next Parliament opened and members sworn in.

rnz