New Zealand Muslims decry anti-Islamic video
The New Zealand Muslim community has come out strongly against an anti-Islam video produced by an Egyptian-American Coptic activist, which has led to world-wide protests by Islamic organisations throughout the world.
The protests against the video are also believed to have been behind a violent surge in Libya where the US Embassy in Benghazi was attacked and four diplomats, including Ambassador Chris Stevens, were killed last week.
“We of the Federated Association of New Zealand Muslims are angry about the anti-Islam video produced by Egyptian-American Coptic activists Nakuola Basseley Nakoula as we find it reprehensible, insulting and disrespectful to Islam and Muslims,” acting association president Javed Khan said.
“We are equally saddened at the destruction and loss of lives that have followed the mindless action of Nakoula and his clique.
“To produce such provocative venom that would injure the religious feeling of over a billion people and simply go underground speaks of a demonic intent to cause disaffection in a world that is working very hard to build alliance and tolerance across different civilisations.”
Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, a 55-year-old Egyptian Copt and fraudster who was sentenced to 21 months in prison in June 2010, has not been seen since Saturday when he was questioned by his parole officer.
Just earlier this week, officers from the Los Angeles County sheriff's department escorted four members of Nakoula's family out of their home to be driven in unmarked police vehicles to an undisclosed location to join him.
They concealed their faces as they exited the house - besieged by news crews since Nakoula was linked to the amateurish film that depicts the Prophet Mohammed as a womaniser, child molester and ruthless killer - in the Los Angeles suburb of Cerritos.
Local website Patch, in its Cerritos edition, identified the four as Nakoula's wife, his two sons and a daughter.
"They decided they would be safer where they could move about and live a normal life," said Steve Whitmore, a spokesman for the sheriff's department, quoted by ABC News.
"All we did was pick them up and reunite them with Mr Nakoula.... What they told me is that for the time now and for the immediate future, for the weeks and months to come, they will not be returning to this address."
Protests over the YouTube trailer for the anti-Islam film erupted last Tuesday in Egypt as well as in Libya where an armed mob attacked the US consulate in Benghazi.
The demonstrations, sometimes violent, later spread to other Muslim-majority nations in North Africa, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Two more American actors have emerged to discuss the making of the film, saying its anti-Islamic intentions had been concealed from the cast and crew when shooting was under way.
The religion of Islam has enjoined its followers to respect other religions and to respect the sanctity of life. In the past, we have condemned instances of desecration of Jewish places of worship in this country as we would of any other places of worship including ours. For this is in line with our commitment and belief in the respect for all religions and people of the world.
“We equally condemn in no uncertain terms instance of uncontrolled anger that terminates the lives of innocent people or cause them physical injury in the Middle East and elsewhere,” Javed Khan said.
“We call on authorities including the leadership of our country New Zealand, to implement a zero tolerance against anyone determined to cause rage and injury to the religious and cultural sensitivities of others.
“As Muslims we have remained law abiding and respectful of others and we are not asking too much to demand equal respect.
“We cherish the peace and harmony we are enjoying in New Zealand and condemn any attempt by any individual or group who embark on a mission to insult our religion with the aim of provoking excitable people to violence,” Mr Khan said.
“The entire humanity share in a single desire for peace. If some unscrupulous elements such as Nakoula target Islam to disrupt humanity's common asset today, they may target others tomorrow to achieve their aim.
“That is why Muslims and non-Muslims have a joint obligation to speak out against such disruptive elements and remain vigilant that they don't hold the world to ransom.”
The New Zealand Muslim community has come out strongly against an anti-Islam video produced by an Egyptian-American Coptic activist, which has led to world-wide protests by Islamic organisations throughout the world.
The protests against the video are also believed to have been behind a violent...
The New Zealand Muslim community has come out strongly against an anti-Islam video produced by an Egyptian-American Coptic activist, which has led to world-wide protests by Islamic organisations throughout the world.
The protests against the video are also believed to have been behind a violent surge in Libya where the US Embassy in Benghazi was attacked and four diplomats, including Ambassador Chris Stevens, were killed last week.
“We of the Federated Association of New Zealand Muslims are angry about the anti-Islam video produced by Egyptian-American Coptic activists Nakuola Basseley Nakoula as we find it reprehensible, insulting and disrespectful to Islam and Muslims,” acting association president Javed Khan said.
“We are equally saddened at the destruction and loss of lives that have followed the mindless action of Nakoula and his clique.
“To produce such provocative venom that would injure the religious feeling of over a billion people and simply go underground speaks of a demonic intent to cause disaffection in a world that is working very hard to build alliance and tolerance across different civilisations.”
Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, a 55-year-old Egyptian Copt and fraudster who was sentenced to 21 months in prison in June 2010, has not been seen since Saturday when he was questioned by his parole officer.
Just earlier this week, officers from the Los Angeles County sheriff's department escorted four members of Nakoula's family out of their home to be driven in unmarked police vehicles to an undisclosed location to join him.
They concealed their faces as they exited the house - besieged by news crews since Nakoula was linked to the amateurish film that depicts the Prophet Mohammed as a womaniser, child molester and ruthless killer - in the Los Angeles suburb of Cerritos.
Local website Patch, in its Cerritos edition, identified the four as Nakoula's wife, his two sons and a daughter.
"They decided they would be safer where they could move about and live a normal life," said Steve Whitmore, a spokesman for the sheriff's department, quoted by ABC News.
"All we did was pick them up and reunite them with Mr Nakoula.... What they told me is that for the time now and for the immediate future, for the weeks and months to come, they will not be returning to this address."
Protests over the YouTube trailer for the anti-Islam film erupted last Tuesday in Egypt as well as in Libya where an armed mob attacked the US consulate in Benghazi.
The demonstrations, sometimes violent, later spread to other Muslim-majority nations in North Africa, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Two more American actors have emerged to discuss the making of the film, saying its anti-Islamic intentions had been concealed from the cast and crew when shooting was under way.
The religion of Islam has enjoined its followers to respect other religions and to respect the sanctity of life. In the past, we have condemned instances of desecration of Jewish places of worship in this country as we would of any other places of worship including ours. For this is in line with our commitment and belief in the respect for all religions and people of the world.
“We equally condemn in no uncertain terms instance of uncontrolled anger that terminates the lives of innocent people or cause them physical injury in the Middle East and elsewhere,” Javed Khan said.
“We call on authorities including the leadership of our country New Zealand, to implement a zero tolerance against anyone determined to cause rage and injury to the religious and cultural sensitivities of others.
“As Muslims we have remained law abiding and respectful of others and we are not asking too much to demand equal respect.
“We cherish the peace and harmony we are enjoying in New Zealand and condemn any attempt by any individual or group who embark on a mission to insult our religion with the aim of provoking excitable people to violence,” Mr Khan said.
“The entire humanity share in a single desire for peace. If some unscrupulous elements such as Nakoula target Islam to disrupt humanity's common asset today, they may target others tomorrow to achieve their aim.
“That is why Muslims and non-Muslims have a joint obligation to speak out against such disruptive elements and remain vigilant that they don't hold the world to ransom.”
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