Members of New Zealand's Muslim community have described feelings of relief after the perpetrator of last year's Christchurch mosque terror attacks was sentenced to life in prison.
Court attendees, survivors, and family members of the victims cheered as they left the Christchurch High Court on Thursday, where in New Zealand's history.
There were also scenes of jubilation outside the courtroom, with crowds cheering and singing the national anthem, "God Defend New Zealand", and holding signs reading “We Are One.”
Abdul Aziz, who was injured as he scared the gunman away from the Linwood Islamic Centre last year, revelled in the celebrations outside the court, lining up for photos with the crowd.
The gunman's sentence means he will never be able to win his freedom, a punishment High Court Judge Cameron Mander said would "not exhaust the requirements of punishment" for the crime.
Supporters of the victims react outside the High Court in Christchurch, New Zealand, Thursday, August 27, 2020. Source: AAP
The verdict followed three days of emotional testimony from survivors and family members of the victims.
Among the dozens of people who gave impact statements was Sara Qasem. On Wednesday, she , who was among those murdered at the Al Noor mosque.
Following Thursday's sentencing, however, she simply spoke two words: "relief and justice".
, the imam at the Al Noor mosque, said while no punishment would bring people’s loved ones back, he was proud of New Zealand's response against extremism.
“All extremists, they represent hate, but we are here today,” he said.
“We represent love, compassion, Muslim and non-Muslim people of faith and of no faith. That is us, New Zealanders, and we are very proud that we are Muslims in New Zealand.”
Hina Amir, who was outside the Al Noor mosque when the gunman attacked and survived a hail of bullets in her car with her husband, also welcomed the verdict.
“It’s a relief,” she said. “We are not in a country where we can expect the death penalty. But they have served justice."
Hamimah Tuyan, who travelled from Singapore to give a statement on behalf of her slain husband Zekeriya, described the verdict as "a huge weight” off her shoulders.
Mosque survivors celebrates outside the High Court in Christchurch, New Zealand, Thursday, August 27, 2020. Source: AAP
"This is New Zealand setting yet another example of the big hearts that New Zealanders have. Their solidarity, their compassion - you cannot match this," she said.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Thursday warned the scars from the attack would not be easily healed, but expressed .
"His deserves to be a lifetime of complete and utter silence," she said.
New Zealand Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said while the verdict was historic, "it is the impact on victims and their stories of survival, strength, humility and forgiveness that we must remember".
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters called for the gunman to serve life in prison.
"Now is the time for Australia's Minister of Home Affairs, Peter Dutton, to receive and carry out the terrorist's sentence in Australia," he said on Thursday.
"The Islamic community and all of New Zealand has already suffered enough without having to pay astronomical prison costs to keep him safe in our prison system."
For people in Australia, mental health support is available at . supports people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
With AAP.
