“One Muslim community leader, who did not want to be named, said he would also be raising the concern that at least two members of the mosque were among the New Zealanders who had tried to join the ISIS cause.”
At least two? He means twelve members of the Aotearoa Maori Muslim Association reside there!
Muslim leaders to discuss new terror law
Muslim leaders will meet with police tomorrow to discuss the terror law overhaul and safety concerns following Sunday’s fire at a West Auckland mosque.
New Zealand Muslim Association president Firoz Patel many in the community were nervous about the Government’s proposal to strengthen anti-terror law including having powers to cancel passports of New Zealanders planning to, or already fighting in overseas conflicts.
“There are people who are a bit upset with the new law coming in,” Mr Patel said.
“There’s some people who are feeling jittery in the community, so this meeting is to ensure we are on the same page with the police.”
The review was in response to the rise of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and the organisation’s success in recruiting fighters from overseas, including some from New Zealand, to its cause.
Federation of Islamic Associations secretary Jamaal Green said in a memo to community leaders that this was a time of “heightened security” for the Muslim community here.
“The government is considering special measures as a response to the group known as ‘IS’ or ‘Daesh’ and the prime minister has spoken of intelligence warnings of possible threats here in NZ,” Mr Green said.
