Dunedin man Mustafa Boztas was shot in leg during the attack on the Al Noor Mosque on March 15, 2019.
Speaking from Turkey, Mr Boztas said he had just finished speaking to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the attacks when he saw a message about the pleas in a group chat he had with other survivors.
‘‘I didn’t expect it, you know?’’ he said.
‘‘Knowing him, he was going to play it all the way. It was surprising.’’
He had mixed feelings about the pleas.
‘‘All this still can’t undo the damage he has brought on our community and the country of New Zealand.
‘‘But it gives me hope it will bring not only justice, but closure to those affected.’’
He wanted to thank the Government, and particularly Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, for ‘‘the love and togetherness’’ they had shown the Muslim community.
Mr Boztas had been visiting Turkey with family when the Covid-19 pandemic struck, and he was staying there for the forseeable future.
He hoped to back in New Zealand by June.
‘‘It doesn’t matter where I am in the world, as long as we can get justice.’’
