The New Zealand mosque massacre in which a white supremacist slaughtered 51 people is going to be a movie called&nbsp; 'Hello Brother', its producer told media at Cannes on Wednesday.

''The feature film, which follows a family of refugees that flees Afghanistan for the safety of Christchurch only to get caught up in the carnage, is being made by Egyptian producer Moez Masoud'', he told Variety magazine.

"In Christchurch, on March 15, the world witnessed an unspeakable crime against humanity," Masoud told Variety, saying members of his team were in New Zealand to meet survivors and families of the victims.

"The story that 'Hello Brother' will bring to audiences is just one step in the healing process so that we might all better understand each other, and the root causes of hatred, racism, supremacy and terrorism."

The title is based on the welcoming words spoken by an elderly Afghan man as he greeted the gunman at the doors of the Al Noor mosque.

He was shot dead, but his words were taken up around the world as a rallying call against hate.

News of the production was announced on the second day of the Cannes film festival, just two months after the bloodshed.

Reacting to the announcement, the Christchurch-based Muslim Association of Canterbury, which represents Islamic organisations in the region, said it had not been approached about plans to make any such film.

"We have not had any proposal such as this presented to us nor have we agreed to it," the organisation wrote on its Facebook page, although one man had visited the mosque on Tuesday with some ''vague ideas" about filming something.&nbsp;

"We cannot stop such projects going ahead if filmmakers choose to embark on them, but the Muslim Association of Canterbury regards the dignity and privacy of our community and the dignity of those whose lives were taken as paramount," it said.

Masoud co-wrote the script and the film is being produced by his Acamedia Pictures.

Last year, 'Hotel Mumbai' offered a vivid dramatisation of the 2008 siege at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel as part of a string of attacks that killed 160, while 'U - 22 July' recounted the deadly 2011 rampage in Norway by a rightwing extremist that left 77 dead.&nbsp;

Masoud, who is an influential Islamic scholar, produced the 2016 film 'Clash' about the social and political turmoil which brought about the ousting of Egypt's former Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013.

The film opened the Un Certain Regard category at Cannes the same year.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The New Zealand mosque massacre in which a white supremacist slaughtered 51 people is going to be a movie called 'Hello Brother', its producer told media at Cannes on Wednesday.

The New Zealand mosque massacre in which a white supremacist slaughtered 51 people is going to be a movie called 'Hello Brother', its producer told media at Cannes on Wednesday. ''The feature film, which follows a family of refugees that flees Afghanistan for the safety of Christchurch only to get caught up in the carnage, is being made by Egyptian producer Moez Masoud'', he told Variety magazine. "In Christchurch, on March 15, the world witnessed an unspeakable crime against humanity," Masoud told Variety, saying members of his team were in New Zealand to meet survivors and families of the victims. "The story that 'Hello Brother' will bring to audiences is just one step in the healing process so that we might all better understand each other, and the root causes of hatred, racism, supremacy and terrorism." The title is based on the welcoming words spoken by an elderly Afghan man as he greeted the gunman at the doors of the Al Noor mosque. He was shot dead, but his words were taken up around the world as a rallying call against hate. News of the production was announced on the second day of the Cannes film festival, just two months after the bloodshed. Reacting to the announcement, the Christchurch-based Muslim Association of Canterbury, which represents Islamic organisations in the region, said it had not been approached about plans to make any such film. "We have not had any proposal such as this presented to us nor have we agreed to it," the organisation wrote on its Facebook page, although one man had visited the mosque on Tuesday with some ''vague ideas" about filming something. "We cannot stop such projects going ahead if filmmakers choose to embark on them, but the Muslim Association of Canterbury regards the dignity and privacy of our community and the dignity of those whose lives were taken as paramount," it said. Masoud co-wrote the script and the film is being produced by his Acamedia Pictures. Last year, 'Hotel Mumbai' offered a vivid dramatisation of the 2008 siege at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel as part of a string of attacks that killed 160, while 'U - 22 July' recounted the deadly 2011 rampage in Norway by a rightwing extremist that left 77 dead. Masoud, who is an influential Islamic scholar, produced the 2016 film 'Clash' about the social and political turmoil which brought about the ousting of Egypt's former Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013. The film opened the Un Certain Regard category at Cannes the same year.

'Hello Brother', film on Christchurch mosque massacre announced at Cannes 2019

A judicial inquiry into whether New Zealand's police and intelligence services could have prevented the Christchurch mosque attacks in which 51 worshippers died began taking evidence on Monday.

The royal commission -- the most powerful judicial probe available under New Zealand law -- will examine events leading up to the March 15 attack in which a lone gunman opened fire on two mosques in a mass shooting that shocked the world.

"This is a critical part of our ongoing response to the attack -- the commission's findings will help to ensure such an attack never happens here again," Prime Minister&nbsp;Jacinda&nbsp;Ardern&nbsp;said.

New Zealand's spy agencies have faced criticism in the wake of the attack for concentrating on the threat from Islamic militants while underestimating the danger posed by right-wing extremism.

The Christchurch victims were all Muslims and the massacre was allegedly carried out by a white supremacist fixated on the belief that there was an Islamist plot to "invade" Western countries.

The commission is jointly headed by Supreme Court judge William Young and former diplomat Jacqui Caine.

It is due to report its findings by December 10,&nbsp;although it may release interim recommendations before then if it regards them as crucial to public safety.

Australian Brenton Tarrant, 28, a self-avowed white supremacist, has been charged over the attacks and is currently undergoing psychiatric testing to determine if he is mentally fit to stand trial.

The royal commission will examine Tarrant's activities before the attack, including how he obtained a gun licence, weapons and ammunition, and his use of social media.

Since the attacks, the government has tightened the country's gun laws and is reviewing legislation dealing with hate speech, as well as pressuring social media giants to do more to combat online extremism.

A judicial inquiry into whether New Zealand's police and intelligence services could have prevented the Christchurch mosque attacks in which 51 worshippers died began taking evidence on Monday.

A judicial inquiry into whether New Zealand's police and intelligence services could have prevented the Christchurch mosque attacks in which 51 worshippers died began taking evidence on Monday. The royal commission -- the most powerful judicial probe available under New Zealand law -- will examine events leading up to the March 15 attack in which a lone gunman opened fire on two mosques in a mass shooting that shocked the world. "This is a critical part of our ongoing response to the attack -- the commission's findings will help to ensure such an attack never happens here again," Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said. New Zealand's spy agencies have faced criticism in the wake of the attack for concentrating on the threat from Islamic militants while underestimating the danger posed by right-wing extremism. The Christchurch victims were all Muslims and the massacre was allegedly carried out by a white supremacist fixated on the belief that there was an Islamist plot to "invade" Western countries. The commission is jointly headed by Supreme Court judge William Young and former diplomat Jacqui Caine. It is due to report its findings by December 10, although it may release interim recommendations before then if it regards them as crucial to public safety. Australian Brenton Tarrant, 28, a self-avowed white supremacist, has been charged over the attacks and is currently undergoing psychiatric testing to determine if he is mentally fit to stand trial. The royal commission will examine Tarrant's activities before the attack, including how he obtained a gun licence, weapons and ammunition, and his use of social media. Since the attacks, the government has tightened the country's gun laws and is reviewing legislation dealing with hate speech, as well as pressuring social media giants to do more to combat online extremism.

New Zealand begins judicial inquiry into Christchurch mosque shooting

Futsal goalkeeper Atta Elayyan&nbsp;was among those who lost their lives in New Zealand's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/49-killed-in-christchurch-mosque-attack-one-person-charged-new-zealand-police-203495">Christchurch mosque shooting</a>.&nbsp;

The New Zealanders mourn those killed in horrifying gun attacks on two Christchurch mosques that killed 50 people on March 15.&nbsp;

The Kuwait-born Elayyan, who was a devout Muslim, offered his last prayer before he was shot at the Masjid Al Noor Mosque, where is used to go regularly.&nbsp;

New Zealand futsal players and management paid tribute to Elayyan laying flowers by the Deans Avenue mosque, where he was killed.&nbsp;

He is survived by wife Farah and young daughter Aya.&nbsp;

In week's time, Elayyan was set to coach his Christchurch Boys' High School futsal team at the secondary school nationals.&nbsp;

The 33-year-old goalkeeper had played 19 A Internationals for the Futsal Whites, according to NZ Football.&nbsp;

Teammate Josh Margetts said, "There is a huge hole in our hearts as we come to terms with the loss of a great person and a good mate."

Elayyan passed on his goalkeeping wisdom to many young futsal players and inspired them&nbsp;to take up the sport.&nbsp;

He was popular for his approachable personality and always helped others.&nbsp;

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Can’t stop reading their stories. There is something about Atta Elayyan, a guy who was my age, and all the photos with his young family that won’t escape me. May Allah join us with them all in a better place. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/51lives?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#51lives</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Christchurch?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Christchurch</a> <a href="https://t.co/ljhRLyGM31">pic.twitter.com/ljhRLyGM31</a>
— Omar Suleiman (@omarsuleiman504) <a href="https://twitter.com/omarsuleiman504/status/1107298645479772162?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2019</a></blockquote>
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After New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern described the Christchurch mosque assault as a "well-planned terror attack", police commissioner Mike Bush said one man was charged on Friday.&nbsp;

"One person, a male in his late 20s, has been charged with murder, and should appear in the Christchurch Court tomorrow morning," said New Zealand police commissioner Mike Bush.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison had said that attacker was a "right-wing extremist with Australian citizenship".

Futsal goalkeeper Atta Elayyan was among those who lost their lives in New Zealand's Christchurch mosque shooting. The New Zealanders mourn those killed in horrifying gun attacks on two Christchurch mosques that killed 50 people on March 15.

Futsal goalkeeper Atta Elayyan was among those who lost their lives in New Zealand's Christchurch mosque shooting. The New Zealanders mourn those killed in horrifying gun attacks on two Christchurch mosques that killed 50 people on March 15. The Kuwait-born Elayyan, who was a devout Muslim, offered his last prayer before he was shot at the Masjid Al Noor Mosque, where is used to go regularly. New Zealand futsal players and management paid tribute to Elayyan laying flowers by the Deans Avenue mosque, where he was killed. He is survived by wife Farah and young daughter Aya. In week's time, Elayyan was set to coach his Christchurch Boys' High School futsal team at the secondary school nationals. The 33-year-old goalkeeper had played 19 A Internationals for the Futsal Whites, according to NZ Football. Teammate Josh Margetts said, "There is a huge hole in our hearts as we come to terms with the loss of a great person and a good mate." Elayyan passed on his goalkeeping wisdom to many young futsal players and inspired them to take up the sport. He was popular for his approachable personality and always helped others. Can’t stop reading their stories. There is something about Atta Elayyan, a guy who was my age, and all the photos with his young family that won’t escape me. May Allah join us with them all in a better place. #51lives #Christchurch pic.twitter.com/ljhRLyGM31 — Omar Suleiman (@omarsuleiman504) March 17, 2019 × After New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern described the Christchurch mosque assault as a "well-planned terror attack", police commissioner Mike Bush said one man was charged on Friday. "One person, a male in his late 20s, has been charged with murder, and should appear in the Christchurch Court tomorrow morning," said New Zealand police commissioner Mike Bush. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison had said that attacker was a "right-wing extremist with Australian citizenship".

Atta Elayyan: An inspiring goalkeeper who died in New Zealand mosque shooting

The carnage in Christchurch has sent shock waves across the Indian Ocean. Distant New Zealand suddenly has unmasked the horribly ugly face of racism that is on the rise almost everywhere in the western world and is often married to religious bigotry of the worst kind. Unfortunately, the demonisation of ‘Islamic Terror’ has diverted our attention from brutalities perpetrated by White psychopaths. After, the attack on the Noor Masjid it is impossible to turn a blind eye to the ghastliness that threatens to target us. &nbsp; 
 
Let there be no mistake we, the people of the sub-continent, are the primary target of those who can no longer be dismissed as the mentally disturbed, socially dysfunctional microscopic minority. Descendants of those who perpetrated genocide against indigenous people now have assumed the responsibility of cleansing ‘their land’ of outsiders/interlopers/immigrants. They daren’t incur the wrath of China but the open season has been declared on Asians-mostly Indians and Pakistanis. True, Turks are mentioned in the same breath but it is south Asians who comprise the largest section of visible aliens- hard working, irritatingly, prosperous, upwardly mobile. In New Zealand alone Indian population approximates 200,000 of which 20,000 are students. Australia is the first choice of those Indians looking in the South Easterly direction and understandably these numbers are larger there.&nbsp; 
 
What is disturbing is that our government has been working overtime to forge closer economic and strategic ties with countries in this region. The QUAD is conceived as a counterpoise to China and we have been happily opening our markets to produce from Australia. Synergies in diverse fields from mining to technology are repeatedly harped upon.

But can any real progress be made in the face of violent racial prejudice and climate of hate? It may be argued that what happened is an unfortunate accident and its unfair to hold the country responsible for it. It must be admitted that the New Zealand prime minister has promptly condemned the atrocity as an act of terrorism and made it clear that all who dwell in that country ‘are our own’. Still, it is not easy to be reassured. The fair-skinned imperialists who colonised Asia and Africa in the 18th-19th century are extremely reluctant to treat those with darker skin and practising a different faith as equals. The only language they understand is of power.&nbsp; 
 
A few years back the Skull Heads and Punks in London bragged about ‘Dot Busting’ and ‘Paki Bashing.’ Then started the attacks on Mom and Pop stores in US towns and cities. Nor have the university campuses remained safe for Indian students. Most regrettably the election of Donald Trump as the POTUS has aggravated the situation drastically. All this talk of building a wall to keep away the Mexicans, Cubans and sundry Hispanics has only fuelled racist prejudices. Tidal waves of Syrian and other refugees hitting European shores has unnerved many governments.&nbsp;

No one, however, has the time to recall what has rendered these wretched people homeless. Hadn’t the US so ruthlessly implemented a policy of regime change in the Middle East/West Asia the ‘White Christian Civilisation’ wouldn’t have been imperilled. Climate Change is a reality that has triggered a Tsunamis of Hate. From Germany to Sweden, from the US to Australia White Supremacists have been emboldened to embark on a reckless path of revenge and retribution. Restraint and reconciliation are for the meek and weak.&nbsp; 
 
Distance for most of us remains a geographical concept. Countries situated far away are not viewed as neighbours or significant in bilateral relations. Emotional distance is no less problematic. Neighbours next-door (Pakistan and China, for instance) often are perceived (and act) as enemies. This makes it almost impossible to resolve inherited disputes or irritants that crop up in the to time. Friends far away appear attractive allies. 
 
Why the tragic events in New Zealand have agitated us so much is for this reason that geographical distance should not lull us into a false sense of security. This time it was the Bangladeshi Cricket Team that had a narrow escape. Next time someone from India may not be so lucky. The Bell that is tolling is tolling for us.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.) 
&nbsp;

The carnage in Christchurch has sent shock waves across the Indian Ocean. Distant New Zealand suddenly has unmasked the horribly ugly face of racism that is on the rise almost everywhere in the western world and is often married to religious bigotry of the worst kind.

The carnage in Christchurch has sent shock waves across the Indian Ocean. Distant New Zealand suddenly has unmasked the horribly ugly face of racism that is on the rise almost everywhere in the western world and is often married to religious bigotry of the worst kind. Unfortunately, the demonisation of ‘Islamic Terror’ has diverted our attention from brutalities perpetrated by White psychopaths. After, the attack on the Noor Masjid it is impossible to turn a blind eye to the ghastliness that threatens to target us. Let there be no mistake we, the people of the sub-continent, are the primary target of those who can no longer be dismissed as the mentally disturbed, socially dysfunctional microscopic minority. Descendants of those who perpetrated genocide against indigenous people now have assumed the responsibility of cleansing ‘their land’ of outsiders/interlopers/immigrants. They daren’t incur the wrath of China but the open season has been declared on Asians-mostly Indians and Pakistanis. True, Turks are mentioned in the same breath but it is south Asians who comprise the largest section of visible aliens- hard working, irritatingly, prosperous, upwardly mobile. In New Zealand alone Indian population approximates 200,000 of which 20,000 are students. Australia is the first choice of those Indians looking in the South Easterly direction and understandably these numbers are larger there. What is disturbing is that our government has been working overtime to forge closer economic and strategic ties with countries in this region. The QUAD is conceived as a counterpoise to China and we have been happily opening our markets to produce from Australia. Synergies in diverse fields from mining to technology are repeatedly harped upon. But can any real progress be made in the face of violent racial prejudice and climate of hate? It may be argued that what happened is an unfortunate accident and its unfair to hold the country responsible for it. It must be admitted that the New Zealand prime minister has promptly condemned the atrocity as an act of terrorism and made it clear that all who dwell in that country ‘are our own’. Still, it is not easy to be reassured. The fair-skinned imperialists who colonised Asia and Africa in the 18th-19th century are extremely reluctant to treat those with darker skin and practising a different faith as equals. The only language they understand is of power. A few years back the Skull Heads and Punks in London bragged about ‘Dot Busting’ and ‘Paki Bashing.’ Then started the attacks on Mom and Pop stores in US towns and cities. Nor have the university campuses remained safe for Indian students. Most regrettably the election of Donald Trump as the POTUS has aggravated the situation drastically. All this talk of building a wall to keep away the Mexicans, Cubans and sundry Hispanics has only fuelled racist prejudices. Tidal waves of Syrian and other refugees hitting European shores has unnerved many governments. No one, however, has the time to recall what has rendered these wretched people homeless. Hadn’t the US so ruthlessly implemented a policy of regime change in the Middle East/West Asia the ‘White Christian Civilisation’ wouldn’t have been imperilled. Climate Change is a reality that has triggered a Tsunamis of Hate. From Germany to Sweden, from the US to Australia White Supremacists have been emboldened to embark on a reckless path of revenge and retribution. Restraint and reconciliation are for the meek and weak. Distance for most of us remains a geographical concept. Countries situated far away are not viewed as neighbours or significant in bilateral relations. Emotional distance is no less problematic. Neighbours next-door (Pakistan and China, for instance) often are perceived (and act) as enemies. This makes it almost impossible to resolve inherited disputes or irritants that crop up in the to time. Friends far away appear attractive allies. Why the tragic events in New Zealand have agitated us so much is for this reason that geographical distance should not lull us into a false sense of security. This time it was the Bangladeshi Cricket Team that had a narrow escape. Next time someone from India may not be so lucky. The Bell that is tolling is tolling for us. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

New Zealand massacre: Lack of racial empathy a major cause of concern for Asians