Acting Chief Censor bans video featuring the March 15 Mosque attacks

June 28, 2022

A pseudo-documentary using footage from the March 15 Mosque attacks has been called in and classified as objectionable under an interim decision issued by Acting Chief Censor Rupert Ablett-Hampson this afternoon.

In February part one of The Three Faced Terrorist was banned. The 33-minute-long second part has now been released and also uses extensive footage of the March 15 Mosque attacks livestream. It includes edited clips from news coverage and interviews broadcast immediately after the attacks, accompanied by a voiceover claiming that the attacks were fabricated.

“I am deeply sorry for the pain and distress that this publication and publicity around it will cause the families and friends of those who died in the March 15 Mosque attacks in Christchurch,” Rupert Ablett-Hampson said.

“The video uses extensive footage of the murders of the worshippers at the mosques on March 15 to advance a toxic strain of misinformation that claims the attacks did not happen, which must be very hurtful for those who lost loved ones.

“I have used my call-in power and the Office has issued a decision to ban the publication as objectionable, on an interim basis, under the Films, Videos, & Publications Classification Act 1993. It features extreme cruelty and violence and is degrading, dehumanising and demeaning to the victims.

“Te Mana Whakaatu – Classification Office will issue a final decision within 20 days.

“It’s important to make this interim decision so the public is aware that this material is objectionable under New Zealand law.

“New Zealanders should not engage with this content, and they should report it to the Department of Internal Affairs if they see it. Downloading, sharing and viewing it is an offence, and we have let enforcement agencies know about our decision.”

A full written analysis and decision on this publication will be published. If you are concerned something you have seen is illegal, please report it to the Department of Internal Affairs.

Further information

Note

The ban of the complete video does not automatically mean that any image or short extract from it is also banned. However, any edited clips, screenshots or still images taken from the full video depicting scenes of violence, injury or death, or that promote terrorism, may also be illegal.

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