--- description: The ISIS spokesman released a 44-minute video via the Telegram mobile messaging app, days after New Zealand mosque shootings title: ISIS Spokesman Makes Rare Statement About Christchurch image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd86e902d087458ce/698946e2b3fce352c70c3523/isis-flag.jpg?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [World](/section/world/) ## World Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [New Zealand](/tag/new-zealand/) ## New Zealand Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # ISIS Spokesman Makes Rare Statement Calling for Retaliation After New Zealand Mosque Shootings by [Amy Gunia](/author/amy-gunia/) ## Amy Gunia Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Gunia was a reporter for TIME based in Hong Kong. Mar 19, 2019 9:01 AM CUT  A member of the Iraqi forces walks past a mural bearing the logo of the Islamic State in Albu Sayf, on the southern outskirts of Mosul on Mar. 1, 2017. A member of the Iraqi forces walks past a mural bearing the logo of the Islamic State in Albu Sayf, on the southern outskirts of Mosul on Mar. 1, 2017.Ahmad al Rubaye—AFP/Getty Images by [Amy Gunia](/author/amy-gunia/) ## Amy Gunia Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Gunia was a reporter for TIME based in Hong Kong. Mar 19, 2019 9:01 AM CUT The spokesman for the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) made his [first statement in almost six months](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/18/world/middleeast/isis-spokesman-speech.html?smid=tw-nytimesworld&smtyp=cur "undefined") Monday, in which he dismissed claims that ISIS has been defeated and called for revenge for last week’s [deadly mosque shootings](http://time.com/5553135/christchurch-new-zealand-mosques-brenton-tarrant/ "undefined") in New Zealand. “The scenes of the massacres in the two mosques should wake up those who were fooled, and should incite the supporters of the caliphate to avenge their religion,” he said, according to the New York _Times_. At least [50 people died](http://time.com/5553213/victims-new-zealand-mosque-shootings/ "undefined") when a 28-year-old Australian man opened fire during prayers at two Christchurch mosques last Friday. **Read More:** [_A Christchurch Gun Shop Sold Firearms Online to Accused New Zealand Mosque Shooter_](http://time.com/5553325/new-zealand-christchurch-online-guns/ "undefined") The spokesman, whose identity is not known but is often referred to as Abu Hassan al-Muhajir, released the 44-minute recording via the Telegram mobile messaging app, reports the _Times_. In addition to linking the New Zealand shootings to ISIS, al-Muhajir also claimed that the group’s leader [Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi,](http://time.com/4962304/isis-baghdadi-audio-recording/ "undefined") who is often rumored to be dead, is still alive. Al-Muhajir refuted claims made by President Donald Trump late last year that ISIS has largely been [defeated,](https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1076515352249597954?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1076515352249597954&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedailybeast.com%2Ftrump-now-says-isis-largely-defeated-days-after-declaring-terrorist-group-had-lost "undefined") according the the _Times_. The spokesman, who rarely makes statements, has never been seen in video or photograph. According to the _Times_, his detailed knowledge of current events raises questions about his whereabouts and how he is receiving information. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5554052/isis-al-muhajir-christchurch/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5554052/isis-al-muhajir-christchurch/"},"headline":"ISIS Spokesman Makes Rare Statement Calling for Retaliation After New Zealand Mosque Shootings","datePublished":"2019-03-19T09:01:04.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-23T23:04:16.049Z","description":"The man known as Abu Hassan al-Muhajir also claimed ISIS is far from defeated","url":"https://time.com/5554052/isis-al-muhajir-christchurch/","keywords":["New Zealand","onetime","overnight"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd86e902d087458ce/698946e2b3fce352c70c3523/isis-flag.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Amy Gunia","jobTitle":"Gunia was a reporter for TIME based in Hong Kong.","url":"https://time.com/author/amy-gunia/"}],"articleSection":"World","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd86e902d087458ce/698946e2b3fce352c70c3523/isis-flag.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"TOPSHOT-IRAQ-CONFLICT-MOSUL","caption":"TOPSHOT-IRAQ-CONFLICT-MOSUL","creditText":"Ahmad al Rubaye—AFP/Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/world/","name":"World"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/new-zealand/","name":"New Zealand"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/5554052/isis-al-muhajir-christchurch/","name":"ISIS Spokesman Makes Rare Statement Calling for Retaliation After New Zealand Mosque Shootings"}}]}] ```