Race Commissioner condemns mosque attacks

Mohammed Farouk Khan examines the damage done at the Masjid Al-Mustafa mosque in Otahuhu.

Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres has joined the chorus deploring the "unwarranted" attack of mosques in the weekend and has urged New Zealanders to send messages of support to the stunned Muslim community.

The anti-Muslim backlash feared worldwide following the London bombings surfaced in Auckland on Sunday morning as six mosques were desecrated.

Mr de Bres said the attacks were unwarranted and asked New Zealanders to support the New Zealand Islamic community.

"Leaders of the Muslim community in New Zealand have utterly condemned the London bombings and made it clear that such actions cannot be justified in terms of their religion," he said.

"Despite this, New Zealand Muslims have now themselves become innocent victims.

"We need to renew our efforts to foster understanding and to create a climate of tolerance and support."

Mr de Bres said messages of support could be emailed to the Federation of Islamic Associations at fianz@xtra.co.nz.

Vandals smashed windows and doors of mosques in central, south and west Auckland.

They defaced walls facing the street in large black letters with variations of "RIP London", in apparent retaliation for the London bombings that killed more than 50 people.

The attacks - described by members of Auckland's Muslim community as cowardly, but heartbreaking - come as Muslims worldwide brace themselves for a backlash similar to after the September 11, 2001, attacks.

The Auckland attacks received international attention, appearing in the Jerusalem Post and the Los Angeles Times, which also reported that a London mosque received hate emails and telephone threats the day after the blasts.

New Zealand Muslim leaders, Government ministers and police were quick to denounce the attacks and offer support.

Prime Minister Helen Clark said: "New Zealand's Muslim community, like all New Zealand communities, is overwhelmingly a law-abiding and peaceful community."

Auckland City Inspector Jon Moss said an anti-Islam backlash was always a possibility following the attacks in London.

"These crimes won't be tolerated. Police are appalled that people would take measures against a law-abiding community like this and if we identify who the offenders are, a criminal prosecution will be brought.

"Police have been briefing [Muslim community leaders] and reassuring them that we are committed to their safety and offering advice as to any steps they can take. Our patrols will be doing random patrols of the premises."

The attacks on mosques in Ponsonby, Mt Roskill, Blockhouse Bay, Ranui and two in Otahuhu took place early on Sunday. The Masjid Al-Mustafa mosque in Mangere Rd, Otahuhu, had already been a target on Thursday night. Newstalk ZB reported up to $10,000 of damage had been done.

Five members of the Kelston Muslim community visiting the Ponsonby Mosque were asleep at the rear of the building when the attackers struck at 1.30am, and did not hear five glass windows being smashed.

Mosque secretary Firoz Patel has said what happened in London had nothing to do with the Muslim community.

A senior member had only two words - "shocked" and "amazed" - to describe the incident at Masjid mosque in Mt Roskill, where about 20 windows were broken and the walls defaced.

New Zealand Federation of Islamic Associations president Javed Khan said it was the first time an attack on this scale had occurred against the country's 40,000 Muslims, about 25,000 of whom live in Auckland.

At an emergency meeting yesterday at Masjid Al-Mustafa mosque, Mr Khan said the wording of the graffiti appeared to be linked to the London bombings.

Muslims were "shocked and saddened" by what happened in London, he said.

"Islam does not tolerate terrorism. It condemns anyone taking the life of an innocent person."

Police Minister George Hawkins said police would step up security around Auckland mosques, and joined three other Labour MPs - Ethnic Affairs Minister Chris Carter, Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff and Maungakiekie MP Mark Gosche - in offering sympathy at the meeting.

Mr Goff said the MPs had come to "express solidarity with you in the face of this mindless and stupid vandalism". Mr Carter urged people to support the Muslim community in the face of "hatred, ignorance and bigotry".

Pakistan Association of New Zealand president Naveed Hamid said Islam did not condone damage to any community.

"We oppose all terrorists, whatever their faith."

Auckland Central MP Judith Tizard visited the city's oldest mosque at Ponsonby, saying she hoped it was "stupidity not evil" behind the attack.

New Zealand Jewish Council president Stephen Goodman joined the chorus in deploring the "shameful" attacks.

Inspector Moss said investigations are continuing. "We will be working to see if there are any similarities in the offences."

Meanwhile, Mr de Bres said a follow-up forum to that held last year following the desecration of Jewish cemeteries in Wellington last year would be held at Te Papa on August 23.

He said the forum this year would include a focus on religious tolerance and interfaith dialogue, at which both anti-Semitism and Islamophobia will be discussed.

Mosques targeted

* West Auckland mosque, Ranui
* Ponsonby mosque
* Blockhouse Bay Islamic Centre
* Masjid Umar mosque, Mt Roskill
* Masjid Al-Mustafa mosque, Otahuhu
* Al Farooq Islamic Centre, Otahuhu

- NZPA