New Zealand – Islamic Research and Information Center (IRIC)

NZ Islamic Group Encourages Parents to Share Concerns about ‘Pride Week’

Islamic Monitor — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 10:56:56 +0000

Amid rising concerns about forcing LGBT education in schools, a New Zealand umbrella Muslim group has sent an urgent advisory to Muslim parents concerned about schools participating in ‘Pride Week’.

Muslim parents encouraged to share their concerns about ‘Pride Week’ by Islamic association.

The letter by the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ) said concerned parents and educators contacted the group about the annual celebration of the LGBT+ community between June 12 and 16. Maintaining that schools have a choice to register for Pride events, FIANZ said it is not a regulation of the Ministry of Education.

“We request all Muslim parents to take an active part in your local school and make your views known,” the letter stated. “We suggest parents and caregivers contact the schools directly and share your concerns with the school principal, the school board and the class teacher. If your school has decided to participate in Pride Week, we have attached optional letters which you can send to the school.”

Source: AboutIslam.net

New Zealand Christchurch terrorist attack report highlights failings by social media giants

Islamic Monitor — Fri, 11 Dec 2020 13:47:51 +0000

An 800-page inquiry into the March 2019 Christchurch mosque attack, which claimed the lives of 51 Muslim worshippers, sheds light on the murky online world of far-right extremists.

Analyzing the report’s findings, experts on online radical movements claim that social media giants, such as YouTube, have not done enough to deny a platform for fringe movements, of the kind to which terrorist Brenton Tarrant subscribed. Tarrant was jailed for life, with no possibility of parole.

Andrew Fleming, an Australian writer and expert on the radical right, told The National that it was difficult to stamp out radicalization, but “what you can do is limit the growth of the milieu out of which he emerged … by doing so, you limit the number of future Tarrants”.

The inquiry found that the “only information that directly referred to the terrorist attack was an email the individual sent to the Parliamentary Service (as well as politicians, media outlets and individual journalists) just eight minutes before the terrorist attack began”…The report said the intelligence function of New Zealand Police “had degraded and from 2015 was not carrying out strategic terrorism threat assessments” and concluded “there was an inappropriate concentration of counter-terrorism resources on the threat of Islamist extremist terrorism”.

Given these factors, the report concluded that security services would have had “no plausible way” of detecting Tarrant’s intentions, “except by chance”.

Source: The National

Muslim community consultations begin in ACT

Islamic Monitor — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 05:29:50 +0000

The Race Discrimination Commissioner Chin Tan has met with members of the Muslim community in the ACT about their experiences of discrimination, Islamophobia and hate speech and their right to safely practice their religion.

The gathering at the Canberra Islamic Centre last night, is part of the Australian Human Rights Commission’s consultations with Australian-Muslims, announced after the deadly attacks on places of worship in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Commissioner Tan told the Canberra gathering he wants to identify community strengths, concerns and priorities and hear about ideas for change. “These national consultations are an opportunity to ensure that the voices of Australian-Muslim communities are centered in national discussions about Islamophobia, racism and related intolerances in Australia…The conversations will help develop supports for Muslim communities and inform the Commission’s work in promoting social cohesion,” Commissioner Tan said.

Source: Australian Human Rights Commission

IRIC condemns the horrific massacre in New Zealand and expresses its condolences

Islamic Monitor — Sun, 17 Mar 2019 06:46:14 +0000

It is with great sadness and sorrow that we received the news of the most barbaric terrorist attacks and the heinous massacre of the innocent worshipers at mosques and places of worship in New Zealand. This terrorist act resulted in the tragic loss of life and injury of many innocent people whose only sin was that they gathered to worship God.

This senseless attack was an affront not only to the Muslim Community in New Zealand, but also to the people of New Zealand, and the broader humanity. It was a horrifying assault on a way of life that embodies decency and friendship and to those who believe in interfaith dialogue and coexistence among the followers of religions.

Real Muslims are the followers of the Prophet of mercy and peace, Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him), and those who have lived peacefully with the followers of other religions in different countries for many years.

Islamic Research and Information Center (IRIC) condemns these barbaric attacks and is determined to continuously combat Islamophobia, heinous terrorism and violence in cooperation with other peace-loving people and organizations and the international community.

We believe such evil acts can never defeat compassion and tolerance at this most heartbreaking of times and it is the responsibility of the international community to confront the rhetoric of hatred and terrorism, which is not recognized by religions or values of coexistence among peoples.

IRIC strongly condemns the incident and expresses its condolences to those who lost their loved ones and extends sincere sympathy to the bereaved families and the injured and wishing the injured an early recovery. May Almighty Allah expedite reappearance of the Promised Savior in order to terminate all cruelty and injustice in the world.

Islamic Research and Information Center (IRIC)
(Status of Consultant at the United Nations)
17 March 2019