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Former president of the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand Hazim Arafeh speaks about the outrage and concern among the Muslim community. “It is completely unethical and immoral to try to make a movie about such a heinous crime,” Arafeh said. “Regardless of all the discomfort, it could still go ahead. But at least we raised awareness and told people we are completely appalled by this movie.” He said he’d spoken to a lot of Muslim people around New Zealand, and he did not find a single person in agreement with the film. Kiwi Andrew Niccol wrote the film and will be its director, but Philippa Campbell, a producer who was working on the film, has resigned in response to the outrage.
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They Are Us after the proposed film s announcement sparked backlash.
File image.
Photo: NurPhoto
The movie will focus on the response of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in the week following the attacks, starring Australian actress Rose Byrne as Ardern.
But backlash to it has been swift: with Ardern saying the attacks are still very raw for the country, Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel calling the production a travesty and more than 64,000 people signing a petition to shut the movie down.
In a statement, producer Philippa Campbell said she deeply regretted the shock and hurt the announcement of the film had led to throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.