Skip to main content
Two men awarded New Zealand's top bravery honour for saving lives during white supremacist's terrorist attacks on mosques
Mosque shooting survivor Abdul Aziz is held aloft as he thanks supporters outside the Christchurch High Court after the sentencing hearing for Australian Brenton Harrison Tarrant, in Christchurch, New Zealand on August 27, 2020

TWO MUSLIM worshippers who at different times charged toward a white supremacist terrorist to try and stop his massacre were each awarded New Zealand’s highest honour for civilian bravery today.

Both men are credited with helping save others in the 2019 attack at two Christchurch mosques, in which 51 people were killed.

One of the men awarded the New Zealand Cross, Dr Naeem Rashid, was killed when he tried to tackle gunman Brenton Tarrant, who was sentenced to life in prison without parole last year.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
Similar stories
 Police cordon off an area at Bondi Beach after a reported shooting in Sydney, December 14, 2025
Australia / 14 December 2025
14 December 2025
TROUBLED LEGACY: Between 50,000 and 100,000 people stood silently with clenched fists raised during the procession of the hearses containing the bodies of three of the people murdered during the Atocha massacre, Madrid, January 26 1977
Anti-Fascism / 20 November 2025
20 November 2025

Spanish dictator Francisco Franco died 50 years ago today November 20. JIM JUMP looks back at his blood-soaked rule and toxic legacy on Spain today