Victims of the Christchurch

Massacres
Al Noor Mosque
 Abdukadir Elmi
70

• 70-year-old father of four from Somalia.

• His son Said arrived at the mosque as the
attack was underway, saw the gunman in
the street and drove off.
• "This is devastating. My father survived
through civil war. I never thought this kind
of stuff would happen to him in New
Zealand," he told the Washington Post.
Abdul Fattah Qasem
60
• Abdul Fattah Qasem Ibrahim Qasem was
the former secretary of the Muslim
Association of Canterbury was a respected
elder in the Muslim community and helped
with interpretation for refugees and
migrants from the Middle East.
• "He is a massive man, a giant. He has a
heart of gold. He was that fantastic person
who just wanted everyone to be amazing,"
his son-in-law Mohammed Al-Kubaisy told
Stuff.
• He was of Palestinian origin but also had
Jordanian nationality.
Ahmed Abdel Ghani
68
• His death was confirmed by the
Egyptian migration ministry.
• "My dad was a good kind man," his
son Omar told the BBC. "Him and
mum had great jobs and were well
off in Egypt but they immigrated to
NZ in 1996 for me. For my education,
so that I could have a better chance
to study what I want. We have been
here 23 years."
• "He had many friends and family
who loved him,” he added. “He was
a pure hearted soul who never
treated anyone badly."
Ali Elmadani
66
• The retired engineer was killed while
praying, his wife told the New Zealand
Herald.
• "We should be strong, especially in
this case. I lose my husband but I'm
not angry. I'm sad because I don't see
him again, I don't talk to him again,"
Nuha Asad said.
• "I'm happy in the same time because it
happened while he prayed. I take
comfort because he was a good man."
Amjad Hamid
57
• The Palestinian doctor's family
believe he was killed in the attack
at the mosque where he prayed
every Friday.
• He has not been seen since.
• Mr Hamid and his wife Hahan
moved to New Zealand 23 years
ago, and had two sons. Mr Hamid
specialised in cardiorespiratory
illnesses for the Canterbury
District Health Board.
Ansi Alibava
24
• Ansi Alibava was at the mosque with her
husband Ponnath Abdul Nazer, who worked
in a local supermarket.
• The pair had moved to Christchurch from
Kerala, India, in February last year so Ms
Alibava could study for a master's degree in
agricultural engineering.
• "She loved all people - cousins, friends," Mr
Nazer told the BBC. "She kept a big space in
her mind [for] family members." He said she
had been living her dream by studying and
travelling in New Zealand. Neither of them
had previously been outside Kerala. They
have been financially supporting their
families.
Ashraf Ali
58
• Ashraf Ali, from Fiji, had gone to the Al
Noor mosque with his brother, Ramzan.
Ramzan Ali said he managed to hide
from the gunman, but his brother did
not escape.
• Ramzan Ali told the New Zealand Herald
he watched the video of the attack, and
recognised his 58-year-old brother
because of his Fijian rugby shirt.
• "I will never be able to forget him. If he
wanted to do something he would just
do it. He won't even think twice. And he
was always successful."
Ashraf Morsi & Ashraf Al-
Masri
54 & Unkown
• The father of two, Morsi, leaves
behind a wife and two children. They
are accompanying their husband and
father's body back to Egypt for burial.
• He and Al-Masri were two of four
Egyptians killed in the attack.
• Ashraf Morsi's brother, Khaled, told
BBC Arabic that their mother had
been left broken by the death of her
son. He said she repeats his name
over and over again.
Asif Vora
56
• Asif Vora was killed at the Al
Noor mosque alongside his son
Ramiz.
• Insurance agent Asif had recently
become a grandfather.
• He and his wife had travelled to
Christchurch from their home in
Vadodara, Gujarat, India, last
month to see the new baby, his
brother Mahsin told BBC
Gujarati.
Atta Elayyan
33
• Atta Elayyan was the goalkeeper for New
Zealand's futsal (a form of five-a-side
football) team and chief executive of
technology consultancy and app developer
LWA Solutions, which he founded in 2010.
• "There is huge hole in our hearts," said Josh
Margetts, NZF's futsal development
manager. "Atta was a great man and well
liked by everyone in the Futsal Whites
squad and the futsal community. There are
no words to sum up how we are all feeling.
He will be sorely missed."
• Mr Elayyan, who was of Palestinian origin
but also had Jordanian nationality, leaves
behind a wife, Farah, and a two-year-old
daughter, Aya.
 Daoud Nabi
71
• Daoud Nabi was born in Afghanistan, but
moved his family to New Zealand in the
1980s to escape the Soviet invasion.
• The 71-year-old is believed to have thrown
himself in front of other people in the
mosque to protect them when the gunman
burst in.
• He was an engineer, reportedly with a love of
vintage cars, but in his retirement was a
community leader in New Zealand. He was
president of a local Afghan association and a
known supporter of other migrant groups.
His son, Omar, told NBC News: "Whether
you're from Palestine, Iraq, Syria - he's been
the first person to hold his hand up."
Farhaj Ahsan
30
• Farhaj Ahsan moved to New Zealand
from Hyderabad in India 10 years ago
and worked as an electrical engineer.
• He was married with two young
children: a three-year-old daughter and
six-month-old son.
• "Nobody was imagining that in New
Zealand - which is a peace-loving
country - such a situation would arise,"
his father Sayeeduddin told BBC Telugu.
Hamza Mustafa
16
• Sixteen-year-old Hamza was shot
as he prayed alongside his father.
• The Syrian-born refugee was one
of two students at Cashmere High
School killed.
• Head teacher Mark Wilson
described him as compassionate,
and a great student: "Despite not
being here very long, he had made
a lot of friends."
Haroon Mehmood
40
• Mr Mehmood moved to
New Zealand nearly five
years ago from Pakistan,
with his wife and two
children, to study for a
PhD in biochemistry.
Hosne Ahmed
44
• Hosne Ahmed, 44, was in the women's
area of the Al Noor mosque when the
attack started.
• She was killed after running into the
men's area to search for her husband,
Farid Uddin Ahmed, who is partially
paralysed and uses a wheelchair. Mr
Ahmed survived the attack.
• The couple, originally from Bangladesh,
have a 14-year-old daughter. Ms Ahmed
was among four Bangladeshis confirmed
killed.
Hussain al-Umari
35
• Hussain al-Umari, 35, died while
challenging the gunman, his family
told the BBC. He was, they said, a
"hero".
• Each Friday, he would go to the
mosque and then to his parents'
house for dinner.
• His parents, Janna Ezat and Hazim
al-Umari, moved to New Zealand
from the United Arab Emirates in
the 1990s.
Hussein Moustafa
70
• Egyptian Hussein Moustafa had
prayed in the same corner of the Al
Noor mosque since the family
moved to Christchurch 20 years
ago, local media reported.
• His daughter told the New Zealand
Herald that her 70-year-old father
had been an active volunteer in his
retirement and visited the mosque
most days.
Junaid Ismail
36
• Junaid was born to Indian parents
and ran a corner shop in
Christchurch.
• His twin brother Zahid told New
Zealand's Checkpoint programme he
had survived the shooting: "I want
him back. I would rather that I went
than him. I'm the naughty twin, he's
the better one and that's how it is."
• Junaid leaves behind a wife and
three children.
Kamel Mohamad Kamel Darweesh
39

• Kamel Darweesh migrated to

New Zealand from Jordan
about six months ago to join
his older brother.
• The 39-year-old was working
on a dairy farm and waiting for
his wife and children to come
join him, according to local
reports.
Khaled Mustafa
44
• Khaled Mustafa died in hospital
after being shot at the Al Noor
mosque - his teenage son Hamza
was also killed.
• Mr Mustafa was a refugee from the
war in Syria. He moved with his
family to New Zealand only last year,
considering it a safe haven,
according to the Syrian Solidarity
New Zealand group.
• Another of his sons is reported to be
in hospital after the attack.
Maheboob Khokhar
65
• Maheboob Khokhar was a retired manager
of a local power utility in Gujarat, India. He
was visiting New Zealand for the first time
with his wife to see their son, who had left
India in 2010.
• His son Imran said he had dropped off his
father at the Al Noor mosque and was
waiting for him in the car park when he
heard screams.
• He rushed to the doors, but was unable to
get through as people blocked the way. His
father had been killed.
Matiullah Safi
55
• Matiullah Safi had been living in
New Zealand for about nine
years, working in various jobs,
according to local media reports.
• He and his wife had seven
children - six sons and a daughter.
• Afghanistan's embassy in
Australia confirmed his death in a
post on Facebook.
Omar Faruk
36
• The Bangladeshi national was working as a
welder in New Zealand. His wife, Sanjida
Zaman Neha, had stayed in Bangladesh
and is pregnant.
• Mr Faruk's wife said he usually had to
work Fridays but was let off work early. He
called her to say he was going to the
mosque for Friday prayers.
• Faruk's employer Rob van Peer told
Reuters he was loved by his colleagues for
his loyal and friendly personality and fast,
precise welds.
Mohsen Mohammed Al Harbi
63

• Mr al-Harbi had lived in New

Zealand for 25 years, but was
originally from Saudi Arabia. He
worked in water desalination
technology.
• He had been at the mosque with his
wife, the Arab News reports. She
collapsed while searching for him
and was taken to hospital.
• His son, Feras al-Harbi, said Mr al-
Harbi had lived "a full life".
Mojammel Hoq
30
• Mr Hoq had been in
Christchurch for about two
years as a dental student, and
was a regular at the Al Noor
mosque in Deans Avenue.
Mounir Suleiman
68
• Mounir Suleiman was an
Egyptian engineer who
converted from Christianity to
Islam in the mid-1990s.
• Family members said he
migrated to New Zealand for a
better life and had both Egyptian
and New Zealand citizenship.
• He had no children and is
survived by his wife Ekram.
Abdullahi Dirie The boy was worshiping
with his father and four
brothers, who all
4 survived.
Mucad Ibrahim
3
• Three-year-old Mucad is the
youngest victim identified. He
was visiting the mosque with his
brother, Abdi, and their father,
both of whom survived the
attack.
• His brother Abdi said Mucad was
"energetic, playful and liked to
smile and laugh a lot".
Lilik Abdul Hamid
58
• Lilik Abdul Hamid, also known as
Muhammad Abdul Hamid, moved to
Christchurch from Jakarta with his wife in
2003.
• He was an aircraft maintenance engineer
for Air New Zealand and also served as
chairman of the Indonesian Students
Association. The Aviation and Marine
Engineers Association (AMEA) said he was
"well-liked".
• His daughter, Zhania Anindya, told Radio
New Zealand: "We never felt alone with his
personality, he was always making friends
with anyone."
Abdus Samad
66
• Abdus Samad, 66, lectured at
Christchurch's Lincoln University
(where he studied for a PhD in
the 1980s) and sometimes led
prayers at the Al Noor mosque.
• A Bangladeshi by birth, he lived
in New Zealand with his wife and
two sons, and had previously
taught at agricultural universities
in Bangladesh.
Musa Nur Awale
77
• Musa Nur Awale was originally from
Somalia.
• He was married with no children,
according to the Stuff news website.
• He is reported to have been a
marriage celebrant for the Muslim
Association of Canterbury until last
year and previously taught religious
studies at Hagley School and the Al
Noor mosque.
Naeem Rashid
50
• Naeem Rashid, 50, was originally from
Abbottabad in Pakistan. He was a
teacher in Christchurch. His eldest son
Talha, 21, also died in the attack.
• In the video of the attack at the Al Noor
mosque, Naeem Rashid is at one point
seen attempting to tackle the gunman.
Mr Rashid was badly injured. He was
taken to hospital, where he later died.
• Mr Rashid's brother, Khurshid Alam,
said he was proud of his actions after
seeing the video. "He was a brave
person... They've said he saved a few
lives there by trying to stop that guy."
Osama Adnan Abu Kweik
37
• Osama Adnan Abu Kweik, whose
family are of Palestinian origin, grew
up in Egypt.
• He had a masters in engineering but
was unable to find work in Egypt, so
had moved his family to New Zealand
to find a job.
• "He told his wife last week he loved
New Zealand so much he wanted to
live, die and be buried in it," his
brother, Youssef Abu Kweik, told the
New Zealand Herald.
Ozair Kadir
25
• Ozair Kadir was born in Saudi
Arabia to Indian parents with
roots in Hyderabad.
• He had been living in
Christchurch for about a year
and studying aviation, with
dreams of being a pilot,
according to reports.
Ramiz Vora
28
• Ramiz Vora was killed with his
father Asif in the Al Noor
attack.
• He moved to New Zealand from
Gujarat in India about seven
years ago.
• He had just become a father for
the first time and his parents
had travelled to New Zealand to
see their new granddaughter.
Sayyad Milne
14
• Sayyad Milne, 14, was described
by his father as "an inspiration".
• He said his son was a talented
goalkeeper at Christchurch's
Cashmere High School, and
dreamed of being an
international footballer.
• His mother, Noraini, managed to
escape from the mosque.
Syed Areeb Ahmed
27
• Syed Areeb Ahmed moved to
New Zealand from Karachi in
Pakistan about 18 months ago.
• He was 27 and described as
deeply religious.
• He worked for PwC New Zealand
who posted a tribute to him on
Facebook, as a "loved and
respected member" of the
company.
Syed Jahandad Ali
34
• Mr Ali's death was confirmed
by Pakistan's foreign ministry.
• He was described by
colleagues at IT company
Intergen as "a kind and gentle
man" who was much-loved.
• Mr Ali, who was 34, is survived
by his wife, Amna, and three
young children.
Talha Rashid
21
• Talha Rashid was the eldest son
of Naeem Rashid, who was also
killed in the attack.
• He moved with his family from
Pakistan when he was 11.
• Friends said Talha had just got
a new job, and was planning to
get married soon.
Tariq Omar
24
• Mr Omar was a former student
at Cashmere High in
Christchurch.
• Friends and family have
described him as kind and
humble, and someone who
always had a huge smile.
• The sports enthusiast was a
part-time football coach.
Zakaria Bhuiya
33
• Mr Bhuiya had taken a day off to
celebrate his 33rd birthday at the
mosque.
• He had moved from Bangladesh to
New Zealand, where he worked as a
welder helping to rebuild after the
devastating earthquake in 2011.
• His employer AMT Mechanical said
he lived on the "bare basics" so he
could send money home to support
his family.
Muhammad Haziq bin Mohd Tarmizi
17

• Malaysian Muhammad Haziq bin

Mohd Tarmizi was praying at the
Al Noor mosque with his family
when the attack took place.
• His father was badly injured and,
according to Malaysian media,
attended his son's funeral in
Christchurch in a wheelchair.
Mohamad Moosi Mohamedhosen
54

• Mohamad Moosid
Mohamedhosen, 54, who was
born in Mauritius and came
from the town of Vacoas.
• He was the last person to be
named by police.
Zeeshan Raza
38
• Zeeshan Raza was the only son of
Ghulam Husain and Karam Bibi, who
were also killed in the attack.
• Mr Raza, who had a degree in
mechanical engineering, became a
New Zealand resident in 2014.
• Just a few days before the attack, he
had moved to Christchurch and
rented a home near the Al Noor
mosque. His parents were visiting
him last week
Ghulam Husain
66
• Ghulam Husain grew up in
Karachi, Pakistan, and worked for
Pakistan Airlines until his
retirement.
• He and his wife Karam were
visiting their son Zeeshan Raza,
who moved to Christchurch last
year.
• All three were killed at the
Linwood Islamic Centre.
Hafiz Musa Vali Patel
59
• Hafiz Patel, 59, was critically injured in the
attack and rushed to hospital, but he died.
• Mr Patel was an imam at Lautoka Jame
Masjid in Fiji for 25 years and had recently
gone to Australia to spend time with his
family. He was in Christchurch with his wife
to visit friends.
• The Fiji Muslim League said he was a highly
respected and served selflessly as an imam,
teacher and mentor. He leaves his wife,
three daughters and two sons.
Karam Bibi
63
• Karam Bibi was killed with her
husband Ghulam Husain and son
Zeeshan Raza at the Linwood Islamic
Centre.
• She and her husband were in
Christchurch visiting their son, who
moved to New Zealand last year.
• They are survived by their daughter,
Maryam Gul.
Linda Armstrong
65
• Linda was New Zealand-born,
growing up in Auckland. She had
moved to Christchurch to be closer
to her family.
• She converted to Islam in her 50s
and, according to her nephew Kyron
Gosse, was adored by the
community at the Al Noor mosque.
• He said she had a "childlike
innocence" and "befriended many
travellers, immigrants and refugees
opening her home, her heart and
her kitchen".
Mohammed Imran Khan
47
• Mr Khan emigrated to New
Zealand from India and started
a restaurant in Christchurch.
• He was married and had a son.
• He was killed at the Linwood
Islamic Centre, reported Stuff
news website.
Sohail Shahid
40
• Sohail Shahid moved from
Pakistan to New Zeland two years
ago in search of a better future.
• He had a masters degree in
chemical engineering from the
Punjab University and was
working as a production manager.
• He leaves a wife and two
daughters.