NZ Muslim community prays for peace

By REBECCA WALSH

His T-shirt reads "Drop Bush, not bombs" and Merwase Ghumkhor plans to wear it until the war against Iraq is over.

Standing outside the Ponsonby Mosque after Jummah prayer yesterday, the 23-year-old university student speaks for many of New Zealand's 23,000 Muslims opposed to the war when he says there is a feeling of helplessness.

"We want two things at once. We want Saddam out, but we don't want anyone to get hurt ... that's a pipedream."

Mr Ghumkhor, who was born in Afghanistan and has lived in New Zealand for the past 19 years, questions how long America will use the World Trade Centre attacks to justify a war on Iraq.

"How many Arabs have to die for one American? It seems our blood is cheap."

He and his friends also worry about the precedent America's actions have set.

"This gives a green light for other countries ... what gives a country a right to go and attack another country? What does this legislation mean if you are not going to follow it? It makes the UN look like a joke."

As prayer goers emerge from inside the mosque, putting their shoes on and taking their prayer hats off, Jordanian born Nasim Malkawi, says he prayed for peace.

"We asked the god to keep everything as normal and to stop this war ... why bring all these forces to fight this country when all the world says no? Where is the fairness? That's why we are disappointed but we have nothing against the American people."

Others gather, yes, they are worried. Some believe it is simply a war "for petrol and for oil". They want Saddam Hussein ousted but say there has to be a better way.

The Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand has opposed war against Iraq. It says the reasons for invading Iraq are "morally wrong, politically weak and religiously unacceptable".

Mr Ghumkhor says: "Who wins a war? No one wins a war. We all feel sick about it."

Herald Feature: Iraq