Wearing a black hijab with gold and red embroidery, her attention is focused squarely on the pain of the people around her.
Her eyes are narrowed, her eyebrows furrowed, her mouth firmly closed. Her expression is effortlessly transparent, and it says the four words she’s already said many times out loud: I am so sorry.
In the wake of New Zealand’s deadliest mass shooting on Friday, the world cannot look away from the response of the country’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern.
In the hours after Brenton Tarrant, 28, walked into a Christchurch mosque and started shooting at innocent civilians, Ardern made a series of bold, meaningful decisions that will likely set the benchmark for what it means to be a strong leader in a moment of unprecedented crisis.
She quickly called the attack an act of terrorism – a label the media often reserves for Muslim perpetrators of violence.
“It is clear that this can now only be described as a terrorist attack,” she said. “These are people who I would describe as having extremist views that have absolutely no place in New Zealand.”
Listen to Mamamia’s daily news podcast on the people we should be talking about after the Christchurch terror attack. Post continues after audio.
Then, she made a swift call on gun laws.
“The mere fact that this individual had acquired a gun licence and acquired weapons of that range, then obviously I think people will be seeking change, and I’m committing to that,” she said on Friday.
“While work is being done as to the chain of events that led to both the holding of this gun licence, and the possession of these weapons, I can tell you one thing right now — our gun laws will change.”
She didn’t argue with grieving families, telling them now is ‘not the time’ to discuss gun control.
She didn’t condescendingly explain that gun laws are a political plaything, with parties trying to capitalise on the suffering of vulnerable people in order to score points.
She didn’t take the opportunity to tell the public that although dozens of innocent people had just been killed with a military-style assault rifle, ‘guns don’t kill people, people kill people’.
She was resolute. She was unwavering.
When Ardern went to meet mourners and members of the Muslim community in Christchurch on Saturday morning, she wore a hijab as a mark of respect. Photos from the visit show a leader who feels this tragedy as a human first, and a politician second.
In footage from the meeting, she comforts devastated men and women, closing her eyes as she hears their words and feels their grief.
Those who were there were struck by her humanity.
“She was engaged, she was concerned, she knew what to say. She is the Prime Minister of New Zealand, but they felt she was there with them and that nobody else mattered,” said one woman, Sarah Ahmed, speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald.
On Sunday, Ardern announced that as a nation, New Zealand will be covering the funeral costs of the 50 victims.
“Immigration status is not a factor,” read a statement. “It is based on the event happening here in New Zealand. In an event such as this – murder or manslaughter – the family is eligible for a funeral grant of around $10,000.”
The families of the victims will also be provided with financial assistance moving forward.
Then, on Monday, Ardern became the first person to sign a national condolence book for victims of the attack in parliament.
“On behalf of all New Zealanders, we grieve together. We are one. They are us,” she wrote.
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Top Comments
Why can't the whole world? Why cant I?
...................
Look at her. This face of empathy would make anyone cry out like I could not resist myself. You can see the expression is so clear in her face. This magnanimous woman with big heart by all means is telling us that we are not alone, and there are still people who can imagine themselves in the victims' shoes.
I met people from these societies practically in my life while my stay in Europe. I
know how sincere humanistic they are. I need no explanation. The more I go into
the eyes, the more I float on tears.
She is a leader. She is the honorable great PM of New Zealand Miss Jacinda Ardern
her excellency. I believe, the world would see a brighter peaceful morning of hope
and vision if the rest of the leaders would be kind and humanistic like her. I can cite her name as an example of a great leader that I'd cherish in my heart forever.
There are true human being in the leaders's seats yet that's what shows us hope.
I pray to the merciful God for her all betterment. I wish, she lives long and long and have greatest ever influence on modern era that is facing inner clashes caused by some inhuman from various background. The world needs leaders like you magnanimous lady with that great heart...!
I wish my love from Bangladesh could reach you.. also Love for this big world who stands with us like you did <3 <3
A true leader is this lady ,what a dreadful situation to be in New Zealand will rise above all of this in time rest all the darlings who couldn't be saved