Muslim community leader says right wingers trying to promote hatred 'have failed woefully' in NZ

March 18, 2019

Federation of Islamic Associations of NZ President Dr Mustafa Farouk says those who want to bring hatred have only increased his community's love for their country.

A leader of New Zealand's Muslim community has told extreme right wing followers he says are trying to promote hatred around the world they have failed woefully in New Zealand.

He says they have only increased the Islamic community's love for the country.

Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand President Dr Mustafa Farouk delivered the forceful rebuke at a press conference in Christchurch this afternoon in the aftermath of Friday's terrorist attack at two mosques in the city that have left 50 people dead.

"While our community is mourning we are saddened by what took place, we are shocked. But as a community we are a resilient community," Dr Farouk said. 

"We know we are living in a country that we are welcome, that love us, one of the most beautiful and most peaceful countries in the world. So our shock was heightened more because we never expected anything like that would ever happen in this country," he said. 

"And I think those right wing individuals who are trying to promote hatred around the world picked our beautiful and peaceful country for the same reason that we pride ourselves when we go around to say we belong to one of the best countries in the world. 

"So they want to bring friction, hatred, division between our communities and that's why they picked this country." 

He said he wanted "to give them a reply, a message that they have failed woefully because what they have done if anything has increased the love and the feeling we have for our own country".

"And we have also seen the tremendous outpouring of love, what we call aroha here in New Zealand. It is tremendous. There's not enough words I can bring to express the amount of aroha and support that we have been receiving, not only within New Zealand but all over the world," Dr Farouk said.

A 28-year-old Australian man, Brenton Tarrant, has been charged with murder following Friday's attacks.

Dr Farouk said the community's focus right now is to look after those people who are injured and lie in the hospital "to make sure that they get well and also to support their families" and to support those who have lost their loved ones.

Police Deputy Commissioner Wally Haumaha told the same news conference the family of the first person who's body can be released is waiting for a post mortem to be completed on another family member killed to have the two bodies released together.

"The process has been very emotional and highly stressful for all and you can imagine the emotions are running high as in accordance with the Islamic faith the families have wanted their bodies to be returned as soon as possible," Mr Haumaha said.

"And we are ensuring that we do that," he said, reiterating that 90 people from the disaster victim identification team are working through the night.

Mr Haumaha also said it's hoped to reopen the Deans Avenue and Linwood mosques by the end of the week, "to allow our Muslim community to go back and undertake prayer".

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