A peaceful protest by the Muslim community in New Zealand against an anti-Islam video, scheduled for this Sunday, has been called off.
The video, produced by an Egyptian- American Coptic activist, has led to worldwide protests by Islamic organisations, including scores of deaths.
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 month.
And in Pakistan, scores of people were killed in violent protests.
“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 early last month.
“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, a 55-year-old Egyptian Copt and fraudster who was sentenced to 21 months in prison in June 2010, has not been seen since last month when he was questioned by his parole officer.
The peaceful protest in Auckland was scheduled to be held on Sunday, October 7, starting at Britomart and finishing at Aotea Square.
Following a letter from the Federation of Islamic Associations in New Zealand, the proposed protest march has been called off, executive Syed Mujeeb said.
“Thank you very much for your very strong support. “We will not succeed until we are all are united.
“Once again thank you very much from the bottom of our hearts,” Mujeeb said.