Message From Mr Joris de Bres to the President of FIANZ
Press Release 8 July 2005
Kia ora Javed
I was very upset to hear about the vandalistic attacks on four Islamic
centres in Auckland last night, in the wake of the London bombings.
Please pass on to your members this message of solidarity. While anger
at the London bombings is something felt by all New Zealanders, the vast
majority would also deplore the acts of a few individuals in targeting
New Zealand Muslims who are innocent of any crime and who have
themselves condemned these acts of terror and denounced them as being
against the principles of Islam.
The theme of the Federation's Islam Awareness Week from 8-15 August -
Getting to Know Each Other - becomes all the more important in these
circumstances, in order to strengthen a climate of understanding in
which innocent people are safe from harassment, abuse or attack on the
grounds of their religion, race or anything else. I hope that other New
Zealanders will join in your activities to demonstrate their solidarity
with you. It is timely also that we will be holding the New Zealand
Diversity Forum at Te Papa on 23 August, on the anniversary of the
desecration of Jewish cemeteries in Wellington. Your Federation's
partnership in the New Zealand Diversity Action Programme of which the
Forum is a part, demonstrates your active commitment to these principles
of tolerance and mutual respect.
Joris de Bres
Race Relations Commissioner
New Zealand Human Rights Commission
See also PM Condemns Attacks On Masjids. To read further messages of support from New Zealanders please click Here.
|
