(Image source from: Indiatimes.com)

On March 15, 2019, the attack at Christchurch’s Al Noor Masjid by the white supremacist Australian was no less than a drastic one for New Zealanders. The shooting claimed lives of 50 and injured countless.

For the 50-year-old Nisar Kaskar, a Konkani Muslim from Chiplun in Maharashtra who moved to New Zealand 20 years ago, it feels that death never came so close to him in a country that has been so welcoming all the years.

Kaskar still can't believe that all this happened right in front of his eyes. He reluctantly recalls the incident and thanks God for still being alive.  

“You know what was the worst part? So many people were killed while praying,” Nisar was quoted as saying by India Times, recalling that amongst the 300 people gathered for the Friday prayers. Kaskar somehow was able to escape from the burst of bullets.

                       (Image source from: Indiatimes.com)

He has been living in Christchurch for the past 20 years, working as a Financial Controller. He said that he had never experienced anything as horrific as the mosque attack in his life.

While recounting the scene of the attack, he said that at first he only heard noises from the back entrance. The people took more than five minutes to realize that they were actually under attack. There was panic all over in and around the mosque. The Imam was just ten minutes into his Friday prayers when the fire began. Nisar was, fortunately, offering his prayers in the center of the mosque and thus he was able to maneuver his way out from the right exit door of the mosque.

There were confusion, fear, and panic in the minds of the people there. He said that many people also got killed as they were not able to open the door on the left exit of the mosque, and thus, were left strangled in between.

“I also heard people talking that many were killed while trying to escape from the mosque, at the gate. I know families who lost three members in the attack,” Nisar said as quoted by India Times.

Mohamed Siddiqui, a close associate of his, got shot in the arm.

“I fail to understand the reason for attacking people while they are praying,” says Nisar while explaining how the Muslims, especially the migrants have always lived a peaceful life in New Zealand.

When asked about his opinions on Islamophobia, he said that it is a global phenomenon and thus, is having its effects all over the world. “Even in Canada, a similar incident happened.”

He also said that the rising Islamophobia is a ‘global’ portent and not a ‘local’ one. He says that the people are all shocked, mainly because many believed that such an incident would never happen, as it is not in the nature of the people of New Zealand.

Ultimately, he considers himself very fortunate to have survived the deadly attack.

By Sowmya Sangam