Muslim rally in Auckland denounces Yassin killing

5.20pm

A group of Auckland-based Muslims expressed their outrage at the killing of Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin at a rally in Aotea Square today saying they would never give up the struggle as long as Palestine remained "illegally occupied".

About 70 people, some waving Palestinian flags, turned up in support of the rally organised by the Muslim Students Association but speakers had to compete against music from a nearby concert celebrating the launch of Maori television.

Iranian-born Golnaz Bassam-Tabar of the students association said Israel could "keep killing this leader and that leader" but history had proved people did not settle until justice was served.

"What is Israel proving about itself when it despicably assassinates a 67-year-old blind, quadriplegic spiritual leader on the doorstep of a mosque? Only its barbarianism."

Israeli helicopters killed Sheikh Yassin as he left prayers at dawn in Gaza City last week in Israel's highest profile assassination of a Palestinian in nearly 16 years.

Another speaker advocated isolating Israel diplomatically, economically, culturally and academically until it became a credible member of the international community.

And while some speakers chose to address the crowd solely in Arabic the chanting they tried to generate against the occupation of Israel amounted to little.

Gul Zaman, secretary of the Auckland Regional Ethnic Council, said he was ashamed at the Muslim community's lack of interest.

"People from Iraq, Afghanistan are here but haven't got the guts to face the public and say "we are here and we are concerned about what's happening".

Green Party MP Keith Locke said the assassination of Sheikh Yassin needed to be identified as a political crime and those responsible "from (Israeli Prime Minister Ariel) Sharon down" must be brought to justice.

- NZ Herald