The Media Council has ruled that Stuff's linking of a Thor-worshipping group with the Christchurch mosque shootings was unfair, particularly to complainant Cameron Mottus. On March 30, 2019 Stuff published a feature article headed variously How a strange Thor-worshipping religion is linked to the Christchurch mosque shootings; Thor-worship's link to killings; and The 'religion' of supremacy. Reputable bodies overseas had linked the AFA outside New Zealand with right-wing violence and there could be a link between the mosque shootings and the wider AFA movement. Given the likelihood of a strong public reaction, any publication would need to be very sure of its ground before making such a claim, and the Media Council was not satisfied that on the material before it Stuff could fairly make the claim. In all six complaints were received citing several Media Council principles – accuracy, privacy, children and young people, comment and fact, headlines and captions; discrimination and diversity.

Source: Stuff July 05, 2019 16:41 UTC