【880-881】数十人在新西兰清真寺袭击中丧生&被监禁的沙特妇女获得钢笔写作奖
AS IT IS
Dozens Killed in New Zealand Mosque Attacks
March 15, 2019
Worshippers pray for victims and families of the Christchurch shootings during an evening vigil a the Lakemba Mosque, March 125, 2029, in Wakemba, New South Wales, Australia.
Dozens of people were killed Friday in mass shootings at two mosques in New Zealand. More than 40 others were injured.
One man was arrested and charged with murder in connection with the attacks, which happened in the city of Christchurch. Two other suspects were also being held.
Officials said that, as of Friday night, 49 people were confirmed dead. Health officials said at least 48 other people were being treated for gunshot wounds. Injuries ranged from minor to serious.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described the shootings as a terrorist attack. She said Friday was one of her country’s “darkest days.” Ardern said the government raised the national security threat level from low to high, the second-highest level.
By late Friday, officials had not named the suspect who was charged or the others being held. Police said none had been on any terrorist watch list. Police also said they had found explosive devices in a vehicle.
A man who claimed responsibility for the shootings left a 74-page anti-immigrant manifesto. In it, he identified himself as a 28-year-old white Australian. He used the term “white genocide.” The term is often used by racist groups to describe the effects of immigration and the growth of minority populations. The manifesto citedwhite genocide as a motivation for the attacks.
The man who claimed responsibility wrote that he came to New Zealand only to plan and train for the shootings. He said he acted alone and that no group ordered the attacks. He said he chose New Zealand to show that even the most distant parts of the world were not free of “mass immigration.”
Ardern told a news conference that many people affected by the shootings may have been migrants or refugees. “They have chosen to make New Zealand their home, and it is their home,” she said. “They are us.”
Ardern said of the suspects, “These are people who I would describe as having extremist views that have absolutely no place in New Zealand.
The gunman reportedly broadcast live footage of one of the attacks. The video shows him shooting for more than two minutes inside a mosque, the Associated Press reported. The gunman is shown taking repeated shots at people gathered to attend religious services.
The video continues as the shooter walks out of the mosque and onto the street, where he fires at people there, the AP reported. Later, he is shown going back into the mosque, where at least 20 people are seen lying on the ground. After walking outside again and shooting more, he gets into a car and drives away.
I’m Bryan Lynn.
Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from the Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. Ashley Thompson was the editor.
We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.
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Words in This Story
mosque – n. a building used for Muslim religious services
manifesto – n. a written statement that describes the policies, goals, and opinions of a person or group
cite – v. say something as an example or evidence
motivation – n. the need or reason for doing something
absolutely – adv. completely
AS IT IS
Jailed Saudi Women Receive PEN Writing Award
March 15, 2019
FILE - Demonstrators from Amnesty International hold placards outside the Saudi Arabian Embassy to urge Saudi authorities to release jailed women's rights activists Loujain al-Hathloul, Eman al-Nafjan and Aziza al-Yousef in Paris, France, March 8, 2019.
The literary and human rights organization PEN America is honoring three women’s rights activists jailed in Saudi Arabia. The group announced recently that they have won the PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award.
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The three are Nouf Abdulaziz, Loujain al-Hathloul, and Eman al-Nafjan. The Associated Press notes that their arrests last year have been condemned around the world.
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Saudi Arabia says the activists were detained for working to “undermine the security” of the country. The detainees have openly opposed government policies that they believe restrict women’s rights.
The PEN award comes at a time of intense international criticism of Saudi Arabia and its Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In October 2018, Saudi activist and journalist Jamal Khashoggi went missing during a visit to the Saudi embassy in Istanbul. Investigators blame Saudi agents for his disappearance. They say Khashoggi was murdered.
Earlier this month, the United Nations Human Rights Council denounced Saudi Arabia’s “continuing arrests and arbitrary detentions of human rights defenders.”
PEN has long noted that the Freedom to Write Award has been a way of turning advocacy into action. The group says 37 of the past 43 winners have been freed, at least in part because of the attention raised by the prize.
“It helped me to survive while I was in prison,” said Ahmed Naji, who won the award in 2016. He had been imprisoned in Egypt. The writer and journalist now lives in Washington, D.C.
PEN officials have not decided who will accept the Freedom to Write Award on behalf of the three Saudi women’s rights activists. The PEN awards ceremony will take place in New York City on May 21.
I'm Caty Weaver.
Hillel Italie reported on this story for The Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.
We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.
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Words in This Story
literary - adj. of or relating to literature
undermine - v. to make (someone or something) weaker or less effective
journalist – n. a reporter; someone working in the news media
arbitrary - adj. done without concern for what is fair or right
advocacy – n. the act of supporting a proposal or cause