The Christchurch Mosque Massacre: Terror and Hope

On 15 March 2019 New Zealand was subject to a violent terrorist act seemingly born of a number of threads of extremism. A white supremacist, motivated by a mix of race hatred, anti-immigration sentiment and palpable hostility toward Muslims, callously executed over 50 persons at two mosques in the c...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Pratt, Douglas 1949- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Equinox Publ. [2021]
In: Journal for the academic study of religion
Year: 2020, Volume: 33, Issue: 3, Pages: 265–285
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Tarrant, Brenton 1990- / Christchurch (New Zealand) / Mosque / Assassination attempt / Geschichte 2019
IxTheo Classification:AD Sociology of religion; religious policy
KBS Australia; Oceania
ZB Sociology
ZC Politics in general
Further subjects:B Terrorism
B Extremism
B Ideology
B Religion
B Christchurch (New Zealand)
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
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Summary:On 15 March 2019 New Zealand was subject to a violent terrorist act seemingly born of a number of threads of extremism. A white supremacist, motivated by a mix of race hatred, anti-immigration sentiment and palpable hostility toward Muslims, callously executed over 50 persons at two mosques in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand, injuring many others. What motivated this attack? What lies behind it? What has emerged in the aftermath? It is tempting to simplify, to pin the underlying cause on one element, such as racism. This article analyses and discusses the mosque massacre and its driving ideology in light of five ‘lenses’, or threads, of terrorism. Religion, the fifth of these, was a critical component of the choice of target and arguably integral to the complex ideology that, at least in part, inspired and motivated the attacker. Responses to the event, including signs of hope evident in its aftermath, will also be discussed.
ISSN:2047-7058
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal for the academic study of religion
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1558/jasr.42944