FIANZ permanently removes “hate speech” Muslim cleric from all offices
In a move apparently eyeing at removing “Muslim church” in New Zealand away from any controversy and negative publicity, the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ) has permanently stood down the Muslim scholar at the centre of delivering an anti-Semitism speech in an Auckland mosque.
The “hate-speech” purported to be given by the Muslim cleric Mohammad Anwar Sahib, at the At-Taqwa mosque in Manukau in November has received much criticism and public attention after a video emerged online and went viral.
The Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy has condemned the Auckland Imam's anti-Semitic hate speech.
This kind of intolerance is not welcome here in any form - prejudice against Jewish people has no place in New Zealand," she said in a media statement.
Ethnic Communities Minister Sam Lotu-Iiga called Sahib's speech "offensive and insulting" and said his comments "is way out of step with New Zealand's egalitarian values".
This is a step forward from the earlier statement by FIANZ where it had then “distanced” itself from the alleged remarks of the cleric in question. Today they have removed the alleged scholar from all offices of the organisation – the apex body of Muslims in New Zealand.
In fact, other Muslim bodies in New Zealand were more forthright in their criticism and rejection of some of the content of the speech as visible in the video.
Islamic Women’s Council New Zealand (IWCNZ) has criticised the comments stating that “these are totally inappropriate and we unequivocally condemn any divisive observations of a similar nature. While we may disagree with aspects of Jewish theology and may have political disagreements, we see the Jewish people as closely connected to us through the Abrahamic tradition. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had good relationships with his Jewish neighbours & encouraged Muslims to do the same.”
IWCNZ further took exception to the comments on the women saying that “we would like to note that Muslim women are and have always been active inside and outside their households, contributing socially and financially to the community.”
Similarly, Mr Bashir Khan, National President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in New Zealand said Islam commands us to protect other faiths and their holy places of worship. The Prophet Muhammad even formed a pact with the Jews and not only protected their rights but enjoined all Muslims to protect their Jewish brothers.”
The cleric in question has alleged that he was thoroughly misrepresented and misunderstood in this video, which is a cut-copy-paste of many of his speeches delivered at different times, in a different context.
In a move apparently eyeing at removing “Muslim church” in New Zealand away from any controversy and negative publicity, the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ) has permanently stood down the Muslim scholar at the centre of delivering an anti-Semitism speech in an Auckland...
In a move apparently eyeing at removing “Muslim church” in New Zealand away from any controversy and negative publicity, the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ) has permanently stood down the Muslim scholar at the centre of delivering an anti-Semitism speech in an Auckland mosque.
The “hate-speech” purported to be given by the Muslim cleric Mohammad Anwar Sahib, at the At-Taqwa mosque in Manukau in November has received much criticism and public attention after a video emerged online and went viral.
The Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy has condemned the Auckland Imam's anti-Semitic hate speech.
This kind of intolerance is not welcome here in any form - prejudice against Jewish people has no place in New Zealand," she said in a media statement.
Ethnic Communities Minister Sam Lotu-Iiga called Sahib's speech "offensive and insulting" and said his comments "is way out of step with New Zealand's egalitarian values".
This is a step forward from the earlier statement by FIANZ where it had then “distanced” itself from the alleged remarks of the cleric in question. Today they have removed the alleged scholar from all offices of the organisation – the apex body of Muslims in New Zealand.
In fact, other Muslim bodies in New Zealand were more forthright in their criticism and rejection of some of the content of the speech as visible in the video.
Islamic Women’s Council New Zealand (IWCNZ) has criticised the comments stating that “these are totally inappropriate and we unequivocally condemn any divisive observations of a similar nature. While we may disagree with aspects of Jewish theology and may have political disagreements, we see the Jewish people as closely connected to us through the Abrahamic tradition. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had good relationships with his Jewish neighbours & encouraged Muslims to do the same.”
IWCNZ further took exception to the comments on the women saying that “we would like to note that Muslim women are and have always been active inside and outside their households, contributing socially and financially to the community.”
Similarly, Mr Bashir Khan, National President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in New Zealand said Islam commands us to protect other faiths and their holy places of worship. The Prophet Muhammad even formed a pact with the Jews and not only protected their rights but enjoined all Muslims to protect their Jewish brothers.”
The cleric in question has alleged that he was thoroughly misrepresented and misunderstood in this video, which is a cut-copy-paste of many of his speeches delivered at different times, in a different context.
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