Muslims attacked in the Christchurch mosque massacre will be granted permanent residency in New Zealand
Muslims attacked in the Christchurch mosque massacre are to be granted permanent residency in New Zealand.
The New Zealand immigration department created a new visa on Wednesday specifically for people who were at the Masjid Al Noor or Linwood mosques during the attacks.
Their immediate families will also be covered by the visa.
Fifty people were killed when a gunman stormed the two mosques and opened fire on March 15.
The New Zealand immigration department created a new visa on Wednesday specifically for people were at the Masjid Al Noor or Linwood mosques during the attacks (mourners are seen outside Al Noor mosque a week after the attacks)
Another 50 were seriously injured in the attacks that were the worst case of terrorism in New Zealand's history.
The Christchurch response permanent resident visa (2019) is effective from April 24 and applies to anyone who was present at either mosque at the time of the attack.
Immediate family members of those who were present are also entitled to the visa, however, those who are granted the visa must have been living in the country at the time and not a tourist.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern condemned the attacks as an act of terrorism and swiftly introduced new gun laws in the wake of the attacks.
In what is thought to be a move to circumvent anti-immigration campaigners, announcement of the visa was not promoted, appearing only as a link on the New Zealand immigration website.
Applications close on April 24 2021 for the visa.
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