Quitting Islam still a matter of life and death
By Jonothan Spollen
In most Muslim countries and communities around the world, deserting Islam for another religion is considered one of the greatest sins.
It was unprecedented then that last month the Mufti of Cairo, Egypt's second-highest Islamic authority, Sheikh Ali Gomaa, wrote in an article on the Washington Post and Newsweek's joint website that it was permissible for an individual to convert from Islam.
Under the sub-heading "Freedom of Religion in Islam", the mufti wrote: "The essential question before us is can a person who is Muslim choose a religion other than Islam? The answer is yes, they can, because the Koran says, 'Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion,' [Koran, 109:6], and, 'Whosoever will, let him believe, and whosoever will, let him disbelieve,' [Koran, 18:29], and, 'There is no compulsion in religion. The right direction is distinct from error' [Koran, 2:256]."
The article sparked a torrent of criticism toward the mufti, as well as claims from his office that the article was misinterpreted.
"Gomaa [has] confirmed that leaving Islam is a type of deviation from the general system [society] and deserves punishment," read a statement issued by his office, Dar al-Iftaa.
Yet the article is explicit. Sheikh Ali Gomaa does go on to affirm that conversion is a "sin punishable by God on the day of judgment", and points out that conversions "undermining the foundations of the society" are punishable under Sharia, or Islamic law.
But the implications of his interpretation of the Koran and Sharia are clear. Under certain circumstances, Muslims may convert to another religion.
"The mufti wrote this in a Western context," said his spokesman, Sheikh Ibrahim Negm. "If a Westerner, who has converted to Islam, for example, does not find satisfaction in Islam, then he is legally permitted to convert back, though he is committing a major religious sin.
"Religion is a personal matter. People everywhere, including Egypt, are converting from one religion to another all the time, and that is their business."
The controversy coincides with a landmark court case in Egypt, in which 45 Coptic Christians, who had converted to Islam, were allowed to convert back to Christianity. Whether these developments mark the beginning of a shift in the country's attitude is too early to say.
Shia Islam and all four schools of Sunni Islam agree that the punishment for apostasy is death, though in the case of women, the Shias and Hanafis prescribe imprisonment until the individual reverts to Islam.
"Anyone who [converts] should be punished by death," said Sheikh Khaled Abdullah, of the Scientific Centre for Koran and Sunnah Research. "I don't care what the mufti said about this matter, I only care about the actions of Rasool [Messenger] Muhammad and his companions: [They] would kill anyone that converted."
Hafez Abu Saeda, director of the Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights, said that religion was a personal matter, and that the mufti was right to highlight that. "[One's religion] is something not related to other people or the state," he said, though he added that conversion was still "socially and religiously unacceptable".
Pertinent Links:
1) Quitting Islam still a matter of life and death
Showing posts with label new zealand. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new zealand. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Saturday, July 28, 2007
DAR AL HARB - NEW ZEALAND: ISLAMIC LOANS ARE HERE ! ! !
Islamic Loans Hit NZ
Argosy Finance is shortly to launch the countries first Islamic-style home Loan. In a current environment where many businesses are cautious to mention the words Islam or Muslim this is a positive step to recognise this cultural group and offer a financial service specific to their needs.
These loans have been available throughout Europe and Asia to both Muslim and Non-Muslim home buyers for many years. In essence, an Islamic home loan is without the traditional interest component that New Zealanders are used to.
“Other than the $50 million in mortgage lending that we offer to English speaking New Zealanders every year, Argosy has recently begun taping into the Korean and Chinese market and see a natural synergy in providing a service to the Muslim community” Martin Fuller of Argosy Finance comments.
The Islamic form of finance is as old as the religion of Islam itself. Central to Islamic finance is the fact that money itself has no intrinsic value. As a matter of faith, a Muslim cannot lend money to, or receive money from someone and expect to benefit - interest (known as riba) is not allowed. To make money from money is forbidden - wealth can only be generated through legitimate trade and investment in assets. Money must be used in a productive way.
Argosy’s managing director Martin Fuller comments that there are an estimated 20,000 Muslims living in New Zealand and until now no financial institution has offered an Islamic product for them. “The potential market is too small for the banking sector but viable for a smaller mortgage bank like ourselves, Fuller says.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) Islamic Loans Hit NZ
Argosy Finance is shortly to launch the countries first Islamic-style home Loan. In a current environment where many businesses are cautious to mention the words Islam or Muslim this is a positive step to recognise this cultural group and offer a financial service specific to their needs.
These loans have been available throughout Europe and Asia to both Muslim and Non-Muslim home buyers for many years. In essence, an Islamic home loan is without the traditional interest component that New Zealanders are used to.
“Other than the $50 million in mortgage lending that we offer to English speaking New Zealanders every year, Argosy has recently begun taping into the Korean and Chinese market and see a natural synergy in providing a service to the Muslim community” Martin Fuller of Argosy Finance comments.
The Islamic form of finance is as old as the religion of Islam itself. Central to Islamic finance is the fact that money itself has no intrinsic value. As a matter of faith, a Muslim cannot lend money to, or receive money from someone and expect to benefit - interest (known as riba) is not allowed. To make money from money is forbidden - wealth can only be generated through legitimate trade and investment in assets. Money must be used in a productive way.
Argosy’s managing director Martin Fuller comments that there are an estimated 20,000 Muslims living in New Zealand and until now no financial institution has offered an Islamic product for them. “The potential market is too small for the banking sector but viable for a smaller mortgage bank like ourselves, Fuller says.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) Islamic Loans Hit NZ
DAR AL HARB - NEW ZEALAND: ISLAM WANTS TO RULE THE WHOLE WORLD
Evangelist - Muslims want 'to rule over whole world'
by Simon Collins
Christians are being urged to stand up against what a visiting author says is a Muslim push to take over the world.
Pastor Stuart Robinson, Australian author of the book Mosques and Miracles, has drawn about 200 people to a conference in Greenlane this weekend aimed at revealing what he says are the true dangers of Islam.
Meanwhile, rebel British left-wing MP George Galloway is expected to attract about 450 people to a rival meeting in Freemans Bay tonight to condemn Mr Robinson's "islamophobia".
Mr Galloway, who was expelled from the British Labour Party in 2003 for opposing the invasion of Iraq, has been brought here by the Residents Action Movement, which plans to campaign against islamophobia in October's local body elections.
Mr Robinson's two-day Mosques and Miracles conference has been organised by missionary groups Open Doors, Middle East Christian Outreach, Asian Outreach and Interserve, with support from the Vision Network of evangelical churches. The programme said Mr Robinson "pioneered church planting among Muslims", working for 14 years in a predominantly Muslim South Asian country he would not name.
He said most Westerners did not understand that Islam taught that peace would prevail in the world only when the Muslim religion predominated.
"Their books teach that they [Muslims] are the best of all people, that they want to rule over the whole world," he said.
"One can't object to that. Christians also are on a mission from God to make disciples, but we make disciples of Jesus, who was quite a different entity from the example of Muhammad."
He said Muslim theology "teaches that war has to be prosecuted against the infidel until the day of judgment when Jesus Christ returns".
Unlike Christianity, which offered salvation simply through faith, he said Islam taught that the only sure way to paradise was to die as a martyr for the faith. "That becomes an enormous recruitment device for a lot of the suicide bombing that we see," he said.
But Mr Galloway, a Catholic who has backed the Palestinian cause for 32 years, said New Zealand's 45,000-strong Muslim community was moderate and law-abiding and had never carried out any terrorist acts.
"Have you seen any signs of New Zealand's Muslims launching a jihad [holy war]?" he asked. "Of course you haven't. These people [Mr Robinson's followers] are trying to place fear and hatred in the hearts of ordinary New Zealand people against peaceful neighbours."
He said statements at a Mosques and Miracles conference in Wellington on Wednesday that good Muslims must kill Christians and Jews would be illegal under a British law passed last year to ban religious hate speech. New Zealand does not have such a law.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) Evangelist - Muslims want 'to rule over whole world'
by Simon Collins
Christians are being urged to stand up against what a visiting author says is a Muslim push to take over the world.
Pastor Stuart Robinson, Australian author of the book Mosques and Miracles, has drawn about 200 people to a conference in Greenlane this weekend aimed at revealing what he says are the true dangers of Islam.
Meanwhile, rebel British left-wing MP George Galloway is expected to attract about 450 people to a rival meeting in Freemans Bay tonight to condemn Mr Robinson's "islamophobia".
Mr Galloway, who was expelled from the British Labour Party in 2003 for opposing the invasion of Iraq, has been brought here by the Residents Action Movement, which plans to campaign against islamophobia in October's local body elections.
Mr Robinson's two-day Mosques and Miracles conference has been organised by missionary groups Open Doors, Middle East Christian Outreach, Asian Outreach and Interserve, with support from the Vision Network of evangelical churches. The programme said Mr Robinson "pioneered church planting among Muslims", working for 14 years in a predominantly Muslim South Asian country he would not name.
He said most Westerners did not understand that Islam taught that peace would prevail in the world only when the Muslim religion predominated.
"Their books teach that they [Muslims] are the best of all people, that they want to rule over the whole world," he said.
"One can't object to that. Christians also are on a mission from God to make disciples, but we make disciples of Jesus, who was quite a different entity from the example of Muhammad."
He said Muslim theology "teaches that war has to be prosecuted against the infidel until the day of judgment when Jesus Christ returns".
Unlike Christianity, which offered salvation simply through faith, he said Islam taught that the only sure way to paradise was to die as a martyr for the faith. "That becomes an enormous recruitment device for a lot of the suicide bombing that we see," he said.
But Mr Galloway, a Catholic who has backed the Palestinian cause for 32 years, said New Zealand's 45,000-strong Muslim community was moderate and law-abiding and had never carried out any terrorist acts.
"Have you seen any signs of New Zealand's Muslims launching a jihad [holy war]?" he asked. "Of course you haven't. These people [Mr Robinson's followers] are trying to place fear and hatred in the hearts of ordinary New Zealand people against peaceful neighbours."
He said statements at a Mosques and Miracles conference in Wellington on Wednesday that good Muslims must kill Christians and Jews would be illegal under a British law passed last year to ban religious hate speech. New Zealand does not have such a law.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) Evangelist - Muslims want 'to rule over whole world'
Sunday, July 15, 2007
DAR AL HARB - NEW ZEALAND: WHAT DOES A NEW ZEALAND GRADUATE KNOW THAT WE DON'T?!?
Auckland graduate warns over possible 'cyber-jihad' attack
The US business community is under threat from Islamic "cyberjihadis" and New Zealand is also at risk, claims Andrew Colarik
By Darren Greenwood Auckland
New Zealand companies and government face a small but growing risk of ‘cyber terrorism,’ and IT managers must prepare for it, warns Auckland-educated information security expert Andrew Colarik.
Ohio-based Colarik, who gained a PhD in informations systems security from the University of Auckland, believes the US business community and government is under threat from Islamic “cyber-jihadis” and claims New Zealand is also at risk.
Colarik was quoted in the US magazine InformationWeek this month, in a story concerning the programme for “electronic jihad” on the jihadi website Al-Jinan.org that uses the internet for online attacks and offers “cyberterrorism for the masses”.
However, the professors that taught him at Auckland University — Associate Professor Lech Janczewski and Professor Clark Thomborson — are divided over the actual threat organisations face, while noted sceptic George Smith points to similar warnings that have never eventuated.
Colarik says the ability of terrorist organisations to “retaliate via electronic warfare is growing significantly”.
“The reality is significant harm will occur to the New Zealand economy if it were digitally isolated from the rest of the world, even if for a short period of time,” he told Computerworld last week.
Colarik says cyber-terrorism uses the same methods as hacking. Economic terrorism is real and governments must make people aware of this reality so they react. This means government working with business to ensure systems are secure and IT managers are accountable.
“The key to all the discussions about cyberterrorism lies in the ability to replicate and automate new attack methods. One skilled person can create the tools for tens of millions to launch attacks of all kinds against Western civilisation.
“Politically, economically or pure hate-motivated digital attacks can be triggered by an ultra-minority of people in the world. Everyone needs to take this seriously or our troubles will only increase geometrically,” Colarik says.
However, the sceptical George Smith says people spreading news of electronic jihadists exaggerate the threat to attract attention to themselves and sell a product or service.
“It’s business-motivated,” the founder of the US-based internet company Globalsecurity.org told Computerworld. Even the reported cyberattacks against Estonia earlier this year were a non-event, he says, with nobody starving, getting shot or running out of money.
Associate Professor Lech Janczewski, of Auckland University, backs his former student, even co-writing a book on the subject with him, noting attacks from China against the US several years ago. While New Zealand was not in the front line, cyber-terrorists might use an open country such asours for launching such an attack, he says.
Professor Clark Thomborson, a Professor of Computer Science at Auckland, stresses he is no security expert but doubts jihadis will target New Zealand, unless as a first-step to warn “larger, antagonistic nations.”
Instead, local IT managers must safeguard their businesses against “greedy attackers” whose damage could be “catastrophic to any business.” By securing systems against these, you likewise guard against jihadis, he says.
In his Dick Destiny blog (dickdestiny.com), Smith recently noted the constant warnings of cyber-attacks that never seem to happen, calling them “electronic Pearl Harbour” stories.
“The necessity for good network patches hasn’t changed,” he says. “Internet and network security remain important, but they’re a completely separate issue from terrorism in the real world. Pretending jihadis can make any kind of contribution to real world terrorism by downloading some point-and-click kiddie tool from a website is delusional,” Smith says.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) Auckland graduate warns over possible 'cyber-jihad' attack
The US business community is under threat from Islamic "cyberjihadis" and New Zealand is also at risk, claims Andrew Colarik
By Darren Greenwood Auckland
New Zealand companies and government face a small but growing risk of ‘cyber terrorism,’ and IT managers must prepare for it, warns Auckland-educated information security expert Andrew Colarik.
Ohio-based Colarik, who gained a PhD in informations systems security from the University of Auckland, believes the US business community and government is under threat from Islamic “cyber-jihadis” and claims New Zealand is also at risk.
Colarik was quoted in the US magazine InformationWeek this month, in a story concerning the programme for “electronic jihad” on the jihadi website Al-Jinan.org that uses the internet for online attacks and offers “cyberterrorism for the masses”.
However, the professors that taught him at Auckland University — Associate Professor Lech Janczewski and Professor Clark Thomborson — are divided over the actual threat organisations face, while noted sceptic George Smith points to similar warnings that have never eventuated.
Colarik says the ability of terrorist organisations to “retaliate via electronic warfare is growing significantly”.
“The reality is significant harm will occur to the New Zealand economy if it were digitally isolated from the rest of the world, even if for a short period of time,” he told Computerworld last week.
Colarik says cyber-terrorism uses the same methods as hacking. Economic terrorism is real and governments must make people aware of this reality so they react. This means government working with business to ensure systems are secure and IT managers are accountable.
“The key to all the discussions about cyberterrorism lies in the ability to replicate and automate new attack methods. One skilled person can create the tools for tens of millions to launch attacks of all kinds against Western civilisation.
“Politically, economically or pure hate-motivated digital attacks can be triggered by an ultra-minority of people in the world. Everyone needs to take this seriously or our troubles will only increase geometrically,” Colarik says.
However, the sceptical George Smith says people spreading news of electronic jihadists exaggerate the threat to attract attention to themselves and sell a product or service.
“It’s business-motivated,” the founder of the US-based internet company Globalsecurity.org told Computerworld. Even the reported cyberattacks against Estonia earlier this year were a non-event, he says, with nobody starving, getting shot or running out of money.
Associate Professor Lech Janczewski, of Auckland University, backs his former student, even co-writing a book on the subject with him, noting attacks from China against the US several years ago. While New Zealand was not in the front line, cyber-terrorists might use an open country such asours for launching such an attack, he says.
Professor Clark Thomborson, a Professor of Computer Science at Auckland, stresses he is no security expert but doubts jihadis will target New Zealand, unless as a first-step to warn “larger, antagonistic nations.”
Instead, local IT managers must safeguard their businesses against “greedy attackers” whose damage could be “catastrophic to any business.” By securing systems against these, you likewise guard against jihadis, he says.
In his Dick Destiny blog (dickdestiny.com), Smith recently noted the constant warnings of cyber-attacks that never seem to happen, calling them “electronic Pearl Harbour” stories.
“The necessity for good network patches hasn’t changed,” he says. “Internet and network security remain important, but they’re a completely separate issue from terrorism in the real world. Pretending jihadis can make any kind of contribution to real world terrorism by downloading some point-and-click kiddie tool from a website is delusional,” Smith says.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) Auckland graduate warns over possible 'cyber-jihad' attack
Thursday, July 05, 2007
DAR AL HARB - NEW ZEALAND: SHARI'AH COMPLAINT MORTGAGES TO BE AVAILABLE FOR MOSLEMS IN NEW ZEALAND
NZ Muslims to be offered Islamic mortgages
Hamilton businessman Abdullahi Dayib, has set up his own company, Al-Haramain Islamic Finance, to offer New Zealand's first Islamic "mortgages".
He is a Muslim, whose religion bars conventional borrowing with interest payments, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Mr Dayib, who is Somali-born, said shariah, or Islamic law, deemed the payment or receipt of interest -- known as riba -- akin to usury.
As a matter of faith, a Muslim cannot lend money to, or receive money from someone and expect to benefit -- interest (known as riba) is not allowed. To make money from money is forbidden -- wealth can only be generated through legitimate trade and investment in assets. Islamic investment funds are also banned from investing in companies associated with tobacco, alcohol or gambling.
"We Muslims have a lot of banks willing to lend money, but we can't just go into banks and borrow," said Mr Dayib, a New Zealand citizen.
He is now waiting for his mortgage product to be approved by Islamic clerics so he can start offering it to New Zealand's 36,000 Muslims who, he says, have been held back by their inability to raise cash like other New Zealanders.
"I know how difficult it is to get funding that is interest free and on Islamic principles -- that is what made me set up the firm," he said.
New Zealand and other countries with small, fragmented Muslim populations have had few Islamic financing products, partly due to low demand, and the knowledge gap between conventional financial institutions that have an incomplete grasp of Islam and Islamic scholars who know little about finance.
Muslims make up less than 1 percent of the NZ population, and ASB Bank, the nation's largest mortgage lender, said it had not had enough demand for Islamic mortgages.
But several financiers are already offering or preparing to offer Islamic loans. Al-Haramain will be a broker for an Islamic-style home ownership programme called Manzil (home), and three other conventional firms, Argosy Property Finance, Global Home Loans and Tasman Mortgages Ltd will act as mortgage managers for such arrangements, the newspaper said.
Manzil allows for an occupier to put down a 20 percent deposit with the balance held by a trustee company which pays the remaining 80 percent. The occupier pays a fixed rent and has a right to complete the purchase of the property over 10 years, with an additional payment of 10 percent of the increase in the house value over the decade. The arrangement can be rolled over for a further 10 year period if required.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) NZ Muslims to be offered Islamic mortgages
Hamilton businessman Abdullahi Dayib, has set up his own company, Al-Haramain Islamic Finance, to offer New Zealand's first Islamic "mortgages".
He is a Muslim, whose religion bars conventional borrowing with interest payments, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Mr Dayib, who is Somali-born, said shariah, or Islamic law, deemed the payment or receipt of interest -- known as riba -- akin to usury.
As a matter of faith, a Muslim cannot lend money to, or receive money from someone and expect to benefit -- interest (known as riba) is not allowed. To make money from money is forbidden -- wealth can only be generated through legitimate trade and investment in assets. Islamic investment funds are also banned from investing in companies associated with tobacco, alcohol or gambling.
"We Muslims have a lot of banks willing to lend money, but we can't just go into banks and borrow," said Mr Dayib, a New Zealand citizen.
He is now waiting for his mortgage product to be approved by Islamic clerics so he can start offering it to New Zealand's 36,000 Muslims who, he says, have been held back by their inability to raise cash like other New Zealanders.
"I know how difficult it is to get funding that is interest free and on Islamic principles -- that is what made me set up the firm," he said.
New Zealand and other countries with small, fragmented Muslim populations have had few Islamic financing products, partly due to low demand, and the knowledge gap between conventional financial institutions that have an incomplete grasp of Islam and Islamic scholars who know little about finance.
Muslims make up less than 1 percent of the NZ population, and ASB Bank, the nation's largest mortgage lender, said it had not had enough demand for Islamic mortgages.
But several financiers are already offering or preparing to offer Islamic loans. Al-Haramain will be a broker for an Islamic-style home ownership programme called Manzil (home), and three other conventional firms, Argosy Property Finance, Global Home Loans and Tasman Mortgages Ltd will act as mortgage managers for such arrangements, the newspaper said.
Manzil allows for an occupier to put down a 20 percent deposit with the balance held by a trustee company which pays the remaining 80 percent. The occupier pays a fixed rent and has a right to complete the purchase of the property over 10 years, with an additional payment of 10 percent of the increase in the house value over the decade. The arrangement can be rolled over for a further 10 year period if required.
...
Pertinent Links:
1) NZ Muslims to be offered Islamic mortgages
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
DAR AL HARB - U.K./NEW ZEALAND: "WE DON'T WANT YOUR STINKING NON-HALAL MEAT-WE ARE MOSLEMS, INFIDELS MUST CATER TO OUR EVERY NEED" ! ! !
NZ meat boycott by British Muslim pupils
There is a stir over New Zealand meat being used in school lunches in Britain.
The Lancashire Telegraph reports Muslim pupils are being urged to boycott the lunches for fear the meat may not be halal. The local council of mosques has written to all mosques in the country urging parents to ensure their children stick to vegetarian options.
The move comes after the Lancashire County Council switched meat suppliers earlier this month. It has responded by taking halal meat off all its school menus until everyone is satisfied.
Pertinent Links:
1) NZ meat boycott by British Muslim pupils
There is a stir over New Zealand meat being used in school lunches in Britain.
The Lancashire Telegraph reports Muslim pupils are being urged to boycott the lunches for fear the meat may not be halal. The local council of mosques has written to all mosques in the country urging parents to ensure their children stick to vegetarian options.
The move comes after the Lancashire County Council switched meat suppliers earlier this month. It has responded by taking halal meat off all its school menus until everyone is satisfied.
Pertinent Links:
1) NZ meat boycott by British Muslim pupils
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
DAR AL HARB - NEW ZEALAND: NO LONGER A CHRISTIAN NATION, BUT A 'SECULAR NATION'...THE P.M. THROWS OPEN THE GATES TO THE MOSLEM JIHAD
New Zealand’s Christian Heritage in Jeopardy
Bishop Brian Tamaki says the Prime Minister’s intention to declare New Zealand a secular nation at an Asia Pacific Inter-Religious Forum at Waitangi should be of major concern to New Zealand’s majority Christian population.
The declaration comes in the form of a National Statement on Religious Diversity that says New Zealand has no established or official religion.
“Many of the countries attending the inter-religious forum have majority Muslim or Buddhist populations. I endorse freedom of religious choice. But I am very concerned at the message our Prime Minister is sending abroad when she says New Zealand is religiously neutral,” says Tamaki.
Countries being hosted by the Prime Minister at Waitangi’s forum include:
- Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation
- Malaysia, of which 60.4% of the population practice Islam
- Brunei, of which 66% of the population practice Islam
- Thailand, 94% Buddhist
- Myanmar, almost 90% Buddhist
- Vietnam, 70% Buddhist
- Cambodia, 90% Buddhist
- Laos, majority Buddhist
“New Zealand has a significant Christian heritage that has played a major role in shaping our national identity. From the bible in our courts, prayer in parliament to our National Anthem, Christian elements are laced throughout our judicial, political and social arrangements. In fact, Christianity affirms the freedoms our Prime Minister is attempting to espouse in terms of religious diversity. However, she should be secure enough to make it very clear to foreign delegates that New Zealand has an established Christian religion,” says Tamaki.
To that end, a peaceful rally is being organised to coincide with the Prime Minister’s Asia Pacific Inter-religious Forum on Tuesday 29th May at Waitangi to uphold New Zealand’s Christian heritage. Event details can be viewed on www.christiannation.org.nz
“This is not about imposing Christianity on society but I believe it is very important that we protect our Christian heritage so future generations can enjoy the family values, benefits and freedoms Christianity affords,” Tamaki added.
Pertinent Links:
1) New Zealand’s Christian Heritage in Jeopardy
Bishop Brian Tamaki says the Prime Minister’s intention to declare New Zealand a secular nation at an Asia Pacific Inter-Religious Forum at Waitangi should be of major concern to New Zealand’s majority Christian population.
The declaration comes in the form of a National Statement on Religious Diversity that says New Zealand has no established or official religion.
“Many of the countries attending the inter-religious forum have majority Muslim or Buddhist populations. I endorse freedom of religious choice. But I am very concerned at the message our Prime Minister is sending abroad when she says New Zealand is religiously neutral,” says Tamaki.
Countries being hosted by the Prime Minister at Waitangi’s forum include:
- Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation
- Malaysia, of which 60.4% of the population practice Islam
- Brunei, of which 66% of the population practice Islam
- Thailand, 94% Buddhist
- Myanmar, almost 90% Buddhist
- Vietnam, 70% Buddhist
- Cambodia, 90% Buddhist
- Laos, majority Buddhist
“New Zealand has a significant Christian heritage that has played a major role in shaping our national identity. From the bible in our courts, prayer in parliament to our National Anthem, Christian elements are laced throughout our judicial, political and social arrangements. In fact, Christianity affirms the freedoms our Prime Minister is attempting to espouse in terms of religious diversity. However, she should be secure enough to make it very clear to foreign delegates that New Zealand has an established Christian religion,” says Tamaki.
To that end, a peaceful rally is being organised to coincide with the Prime Minister’s Asia Pacific Inter-religious Forum on Tuesday 29th May at Waitangi to uphold New Zealand’s Christian heritage. Event details can be viewed on www.christiannation.org.nz
“This is not about imposing Christianity on society but I believe it is very important that we protect our Christian heritage so future generations can enjoy the family values, benefits and freedoms Christianity affords,” Tamaki added.
Pertinent Links:
1) New Zealand’s Christian Heritage in Jeopardy
Monday, March 26, 2007
DAR AL HARB - NEW ZEALAND: CHRISTIANS SPLIT WHEN IT COMES TO THE "MOSQUE & MIRACLES" CONFERENCE, STENCH OF COWARDICE & IGNORANCE ABOUNDS
Christians split over anti-Islam seminars
By IAN STEWARD
Christian churches have splintered into opposing camps over the Mosque and Miracles conference which will discuss the "threat" of Islam in New Zealand.
Leaders of the Anglican and Catholic churches distanced themselves yesterday from the event, while Baptist and evangelical churches vowed not to be "scared into naivety".
The July Mosque and Miracles conferences will feature Christian pastors from Australia giving seminars on Islam and its challenge to Western societies.
The Anglican Bishop of Christchurch, the Rt Rev Dr David Coles, said that after The Press coverage on Friday of Muslim outrage at the event he received several phone calls from church leaders. "They were saying this is dreadful stuff and we need to take the lead on this. It's definitely dangerous to start stereotyping Muslims in this country. It's very provocative and it often gets confused with immigration issues."
Conference organiser Murray Dillner told The Press last week that Islam "made a society implode" and "had a mindset to take over the world".
Christian newspaper Challenge Weekly reported that Dillner said Islam would "take away the freedoms we have in New Zealand".
Director of multi-church Vision Network Glyn Carpenter said his group still supported the conferences.
He said there was "enough evidence in the public domain about radical Islam that it would be naive in the extreme not to address this". "We can't be scared into being naive."
Islamic Association president Javed Khan's description of the conference organisers as bigots was "unfair and unfortunate", he said.
Dillner worked with Christians persecuted in the Middle East, so his experience of Islam would be "quite different to the average Kiwi's", he said.
Senior pastor Murray Robertson, of Spreydon Baptist, where the Christchurch conference will be held, said the church agreed to host the meeting because he had met some of the visiting pastors and knew they were not extreme people.
He said he was "horrified" at some of the comments made by the organisers, but the conference would still be held at his church.
Catholic Communications spokeswoman Lyndsay Freer said Pope Benedict XVI and his predecessor, John Paul II, had explicitly said Catholics respected the Muslim faith and recognised they "worshipped the God of Abraham as we do".
Methodist president John Salmon said they would not be attending the conferences as they did not see Islam as a threat.
Hat Tip:
Ummah News Links
Pertinent Links:
1) Christians split over anti-Islam seminars
2) Christian Conference Slammed as a "Conference of Bigots"
By IAN STEWARD
Christian churches have splintered into opposing camps over the Mosque and Miracles conference which will discuss the "threat" of Islam in New Zealand.
Leaders of the Anglican and Catholic churches distanced themselves yesterday from the event, while Baptist and evangelical churches vowed not to be "scared into naivety".
The July Mosque and Miracles conferences will feature Christian pastors from Australia giving seminars on Islam and its challenge to Western societies.
The Anglican Bishop of Christchurch, the Rt Rev Dr David Coles, said that after The Press coverage on Friday of Muslim outrage at the event he received several phone calls from church leaders. "They were saying this is dreadful stuff and we need to take the lead on this. It's definitely dangerous to start stereotyping Muslims in this country. It's very provocative and it often gets confused with immigration issues."
Conference organiser Murray Dillner told The Press last week that Islam "made a society implode" and "had a mindset to take over the world".
Christian newspaper Challenge Weekly reported that Dillner said Islam would "take away the freedoms we have in New Zealand".
Director of multi-church Vision Network Glyn Carpenter said his group still supported the conferences.
He said there was "enough evidence in the public domain about radical Islam that it would be naive in the extreme not to address this". "We can't be scared into being naive."
Islamic Association president Javed Khan's description of the conference organisers as bigots was "unfair and unfortunate", he said.
Dillner worked with Christians persecuted in the Middle East, so his experience of Islam would be "quite different to the average Kiwi's", he said.
Senior pastor Murray Robertson, of Spreydon Baptist, where the Christchurch conference will be held, said the church agreed to host the meeting because he had met some of the visiting pastors and knew they were not extreme people.
He said he was "horrified" at some of the comments made by the organisers, but the conference would still be held at his church.
Catholic Communications spokeswoman Lyndsay Freer said Pope Benedict XVI and his predecessor, John Paul II, had explicitly said Catholics respected the Muslim faith and recognised they "worshipped the God of Abraham as we do".
Methodist president John Salmon said they would not be attending the conferences as they did not see Islam as a threat.
Hat Tip:
Ummah News Links
Pertinent Links:
1) Christians split over anti-Islam seminars
2) Christian Conference Slammed as a "Conference of Bigots"
Thursday, March 22, 2007
DAR AL HARB - NEW ZEALAND: CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE SLAMMED AS A "CONFERENCE OF BIGOTS"
Muslims slam conference of Christians
By IAN STEWARD
A conference of Christian church leaders on the "threat" of Islam to New Zealand is being condemned as a "conference of bigots" by senior New Zealand Muslims.
The organiser of the Mosque and Miracles conferences, national director of Middle East Christian Outreach Murray Dillner, said the conference would address the threat posed by Islam to New Zealand society – a threat he likened to the terrorist attacks in the United States of September 11, 2001.
"It's an underlying threat, but it's like the twin towers – they imploded. Islam does the same thing to a society – it makes it implode," he said.
"The mindset of Islam is to take over the world. They will do that by any means they can."
"The church in England ignored Islam. If the church in New Zealand doesn't rise up, we will be in the same situation."
Federation of Islamic Associations president Javed Khan said it was a "conference of bigots".
"It's fearmongering; Islamophobia. The organisers are prejudiced, biased bigots," he said.
"For heaven's sake, we are less than 1 per cent of the population. Muslims have been in New Zealand for a century. No Muslim has ever done anything like what they are afraid of."
The conference, scheduled for the Spreydon Baptist Church on July 23 and 24, will feature three Australian speakers.
Pastor Stuart Robinson, the author of the book Mosques and Miracles, lived among Muslims in Southeast Asia and has spoken at conferences in Australia and South Africa.
One of the speakers at the Australian conferences, Pastor Daniel Scot, was tried under Australian religious vilification laws in 2004.
Dillner said another speaker on the New Zealand tour, Daniel Sheyesteh, knew the militant side of Islam from his early years as a trainer for Hezbollah and from his involvement in the Iranian Islamic revolution.
Sheyesteh fell foul of the Iranian authorities and escaped execution by fleeing to Turkey, where he converted to Christianity, Dillner said.
"He speaks out very clearly about what Islam really is. Muslims don't have the freedom to change religion. If you do, they'll do their best to eradicate you," Dillner said.
A fellow organiser, Open Doors New Zealand director Bruce Quedley, said Islam was often portrayed as a religion of peace, but "realistically that's not what happens".
He said the conference was important as "we have adjusted to accommodate parts of society at the expense of Christianity".
Quedley said the conferences were restricted to church leaders to prevent those who may seek to "disrupt" the proceedings.
Acting Christchurch imam (religious leader) Mohammad Alayan said: "What do you make of it other than blind hatred?
"If they are going to criticise Islam, they should invite us to come and discuss it with them.
There are many good Christians out there and I hope ... they will not go along with this."
Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres said freedom of speech meant viewpoints could not be suppressed "unless they lead to hostility".
Pertinent Links:
1) Muslims slam conference of Christians
By IAN STEWARD
A conference of Christian church leaders on the "threat" of Islam to New Zealand is being condemned as a "conference of bigots" by senior New Zealand Muslims.
The organiser of the Mosque and Miracles conferences, national director of Middle East Christian Outreach Murray Dillner, said the conference would address the threat posed by Islam to New Zealand society – a threat he likened to the terrorist attacks in the United States of September 11, 2001.
"It's an underlying threat, but it's like the twin towers – they imploded. Islam does the same thing to a society – it makes it implode," he said.
"The mindset of Islam is to take over the world. They will do that by any means they can."
"The church in England ignored Islam. If the church in New Zealand doesn't rise up, we will be in the same situation."
Federation of Islamic Associations president Javed Khan said it was a "conference of bigots".
"It's fearmongering; Islamophobia. The organisers are prejudiced, biased bigots," he said.
"For heaven's sake, we are less than 1 per cent of the population. Muslims have been in New Zealand for a century. No Muslim has ever done anything like what they are afraid of."
The conference, scheduled for the Spreydon Baptist Church on July 23 and 24, will feature three Australian speakers.
Pastor Stuart Robinson, the author of the book Mosques and Miracles, lived among Muslims in Southeast Asia and has spoken at conferences in Australia and South Africa.
One of the speakers at the Australian conferences, Pastor Daniel Scot, was tried under Australian religious vilification laws in 2004.
Dillner said another speaker on the New Zealand tour, Daniel Sheyesteh, knew the militant side of Islam from his early years as a trainer for Hezbollah and from his involvement in the Iranian Islamic revolution.
Sheyesteh fell foul of the Iranian authorities and escaped execution by fleeing to Turkey, where he converted to Christianity, Dillner said.
"He speaks out very clearly about what Islam really is. Muslims don't have the freedom to change religion. If you do, they'll do their best to eradicate you," Dillner said.
A fellow organiser, Open Doors New Zealand director Bruce Quedley, said Islam was often portrayed as a religion of peace, but "realistically that's not what happens".
He said the conference was important as "we have adjusted to accommodate parts of society at the expense of Christianity".
Quedley said the conferences were restricted to church leaders to prevent those who may seek to "disrupt" the proceedings.
Acting Christchurch imam (religious leader) Mohammad Alayan said: "What do you make of it other than blind hatred?
"If they are going to criticise Islam, they should invite us to come and discuss it with them.
There are many good Christians out there and I hope ... they will not go along with this."
Race Relations Commissioner Joris de Bres said freedom of speech meant viewpoints could not be suppressed "unless they lead to hostility".
Pertinent Links:
1) Muslims slam conference of Christians
Thursday, February 22, 2007
DAR AL HARB - NEW ZEALAND: SECURITY SERVICES PROVIDE A DIRE REPORT, GREEN MP IS STRUCK BY A CASE OF THE VAPORS
World unsafe : SIS blames foreigners, Islamists
Green MP Keith Locke has accused the Security Intelligence Service of scaremongering in its latest annual report about the terrorist danger to New Zealand.
"The outgoing SIS director Richard Woods has clearly ramped up the terrorist threat to justify the huge leap in SIS funding this year from $23.2 million to $43.4 million.
"Mr Woods calls for 'good quality public debate' on the terrorist danger, but contributes nothing useful to such a debate. The report contains only vagaries about 'foreign intelligence services' collecting economic, scientific and political information 'to further their own national interests'.
How can there be a quality public debate when we don't even know which countries the SIS is talking about, or whether the SIS succeeded or failed in stopping these attempts at economic, scientific and political espionage? Have our scientific institutions been successfully infiltrated by foreign spies or not? When and by whom ?
"The SIS claims in its report to have investigated links to and activities that support weapons of mass destruction programmes abroad - presumably, this is not a coded reference to the visit of President Musharraf of Pakistan. The lack of detail again, prevents public debate.
'The SIS also report that they are still on the case of poor Ahmed Zaoui, a refugee from Algeria.
The Zaoui case has been 'time-consuming', says Mr Woods, in an effort to justify the SIS taking over four years - and counting - to get its case together.
"The other specific achievement mentioned in the report is the expulsion of Rayed Ali, a Yemeni man of 'security concern'. Oddly for an agency engaged with the 'war on terror' the SIS just grabbed Rayed Ali and bundled him out of the country, without any serious effort to interrogate him - perhaps because they knew all along he was an innocent party.
"The reality is that New Zealand doesn't generate attention from Islamic terrorists because, unlike America, Britain and Australia, we haven't sent troops to Iraq.
See it really is the dhimmis fault, if they only kept their mouths shut the jihadists wouldn't even notice them and things would be a ok...
Gawd, these people must have rocks (I really wanted to use an expletive here, but I have given up cussing for Lent) for brains...
Pertinent Links:
1) World unsafe : SIS blames foreigners, Islamists
Green MP Keith Locke has accused the Security Intelligence Service of scaremongering in its latest annual report about the terrorist danger to New Zealand.
"The outgoing SIS director Richard Woods has clearly ramped up the terrorist threat to justify the huge leap in SIS funding this year from $23.2 million to $43.4 million.
"Mr Woods calls for 'good quality public debate' on the terrorist danger, but contributes nothing useful to such a debate. The report contains only vagaries about 'foreign intelligence services' collecting economic, scientific and political information 'to further their own national interests'.
How can there be a quality public debate when we don't even know which countries the SIS is talking about, or whether the SIS succeeded or failed in stopping these attempts at economic, scientific and political espionage? Have our scientific institutions been successfully infiltrated by foreign spies or not? When and by whom ?
"The SIS claims in its report to have investigated links to and activities that support weapons of mass destruction programmes abroad - presumably, this is not a coded reference to the visit of President Musharraf of Pakistan. The lack of detail again, prevents public debate.
'The SIS also report that they are still on the case of poor Ahmed Zaoui, a refugee from Algeria.
The Zaoui case has been 'time-consuming', says Mr Woods, in an effort to justify the SIS taking over four years - and counting - to get its case together.
"The other specific achievement mentioned in the report is the expulsion of Rayed Ali, a Yemeni man of 'security concern'. Oddly for an agency engaged with the 'war on terror' the SIS just grabbed Rayed Ali and bundled him out of the country, without any serious effort to interrogate him - perhaps because they knew all along he was an innocent party.
"The reality is that New Zealand doesn't generate attention from Islamic terrorists because, unlike America, Britain and Australia, we haven't sent troops to Iraq.
See it really is the dhimmis fault, if they only kept their mouths shut the jihadists wouldn't even notice them and things would be a ok...
Gawd, these people must have rocks (I really wanted to use an expletive here, but I have given up cussing for Lent) for brains...
Pertinent Links:
1) World unsafe : SIS blames foreigners, Islamists
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
DAR AL HARB - U.K.: WRANGLING OVER VIDEO TAPES BETWEEN POLICE & CHANNEL 4
Police demand to see Brum mosque footage
Feb 14 2007
By Neil Connor, Chief Reporter
West Midlands Police is locked in a battle with documentary-makers over unedited tapes of alleged extremist teachings at a Birmingham mosque.
Channel 4 is insisting it will not hand over the tapes from the Dispatches TV programme without a court order.Officers have requested the tapes to "establish whether any criminal offences have been committed" at the Green Lane Mosque, in Small Heath.
However, a formal investigation into the teachings of a radical cleric which were revealed in the documentary has not been launched, a police spokeswoman said.
Preacher Abu Usamah At-Thahabi was filmed at the mosque attacking Jews and Christians and calling for homosexuals to be murdered.
Channel 4's Dispatches: Undercover Mosque captured him telling worshippers: "If I were to call homosexuals perverted, dirty, filthy dogs who should be murdered, that's my freedom of speech, isn't it?"
...
And
Cleric's comments harmless, say Muslims
Muslims say a cleric accused of spreading hate speech made "harmless" comments and promoted interaction with all religions while in New Zealand.
American-born Sheikh Khalid Yasin, who spoke in Christchurch as a guest of the Muslim Association of Canterbury in 2005, was shown in an undercover British documentary last month allegedly inciting hatred at a British mosque. In the documentary, Yasin predicts that Jews will be exterminated on Judgment Day and advocates a subordinate role for women.
Dr Mohammad Alayan, who saw Yasin speak in Christchurch in 2005, said Yasin's comments were the opposite of what had been alleged.
Alayan said Yasin was encouraging Muslims to be more open, and to get out of the mosque to interact with Christians and the wider community. "He left a very good impression in the community," he said. "We never came across what has been said in the newspaper."
Muslim Association of Canterbury treasurer, Farouk Shah, said he was very surprised to hear the allegations about Yasin.
"He was always talking about building bridges with the Jews and Christians, not breaking it. He was always talking about getting on with the people of the world."
...
You may wish to see the edited video program on Channel 4, you will find the links to the videos here: (link)
Pertinent Links:
1) Police demand to see Brum mosque footage
2) Cleric's comments harmless, say Muslims
Feb 14 2007
By Neil Connor, Chief Reporter
West Midlands Police is locked in a battle with documentary-makers over unedited tapes of alleged extremist teachings at a Birmingham mosque.
Channel 4 is insisting it will not hand over the tapes from the Dispatches TV programme without a court order.Officers have requested the tapes to "establish whether any criminal offences have been committed" at the Green Lane Mosque, in Small Heath.
However, a formal investigation into the teachings of a radical cleric which were revealed in the documentary has not been launched, a police spokeswoman said.
Preacher Abu Usamah At-Thahabi was filmed at the mosque attacking Jews and Christians and calling for homosexuals to be murdered.
Channel 4's Dispatches: Undercover Mosque captured him telling worshippers: "If I were to call homosexuals perverted, dirty, filthy dogs who should be murdered, that's my freedom of speech, isn't it?"
...
And
Cleric's comments harmless, say Muslims
Muslims say a cleric accused of spreading hate speech made "harmless" comments and promoted interaction with all religions while in New Zealand.
American-born Sheikh Khalid Yasin, who spoke in Christchurch as a guest of the Muslim Association of Canterbury in 2005, was shown in an undercover British documentary last month allegedly inciting hatred at a British mosque. In the documentary, Yasin predicts that Jews will be exterminated on Judgment Day and advocates a subordinate role for women.
Dr Mohammad Alayan, who saw Yasin speak in Christchurch in 2005, said Yasin's comments were the opposite of what had been alleged.
Alayan said Yasin was encouraging Muslims to be more open, and to get out of the mosque to interact with Christians and the wider community. "He left a very good impression in the community," he said. "We never came across what has been said in the newspaper."
Muslim Association of Canterbury treasurer, Farouk Shah, said he was very surprised to hear the allegations about Yasin.
"He was always talking about building bridges with the Jews and Christians, not breaking it. He was always talking about getting on with the people of the world."
...
You may wish to see the edited video program on Channel 4, you will find the links to the videos here: (link)
Pertinent Links:
1) Police demand to see Brum mosque footage
2) Cleric's comments harmless, say Muslims
Monday, January 15, 2007
DAR AL HARB - NEW ZEALAND: MOSLEMS WANT FEMALE ONLY POOL FACILITIES IN NEW ZEALAND
Pool tale causes a splash, but holds no water
...
A Muslim woman, Naaz Shah, was reported in the Christchurch Press as calling for special pool facilities for Muslim women where they could swim without compromising their beliefs. According to Naaz Shah, the lack of a special water sports facility meant Muslim women had no opportunity to exercise and as a result they were becoming unfit and depressed. What a load of bollocks. There's a number of things wrong with this story. One Muslim woman does not represent the views of her entire community. Indeed, the chief executive of the Muslim Association said he wasn't aware of any reports of Muslim women being made to feel uncomfortable at pools. And what about questioning Naaz Shah about other forms of exercise?
Obviously, beach volleyball is out for a good, Allah-fearing Muslim girl, but how about fencing? You're covered from head to toe, including a face mask - that should appease even the most fundamentalist of mullahs. If finding a fencing club proves difficult, there's a chain of women-only gyms around the country, many gyms have women-only exercise areas and most pools have women-only training squads. There are walking groups around the country where there are no dress requirements - all you have to do is put one foot in front of the other and you're away.
All of these facilities have been established because it's not just modest Muslim women who are reluctant to expose their bodies to the world. Any overweight man or woman will tell you of the nerve required to take that first step into the pool or gym and their reluctance to step out of their shapeless, formless garments and into exercise gear.
As it is, most people are far too busy getting on with their own routine to be looking at anyone else, but nonetheless, the fear remains and it's not confined to those of a particular belief or faith.
Bored journalists shouldn't be mischievous and Naaz Shah should realise her head isn't there simply to hold up her headscarf. There's a brain in there she could use.
Pertinent Links:
1) Pool tale causes a splash, but holds no water
...
A Muslim woman, Naaz Shah, was reported in the Christchurch Press as calling for special pool facilities for Muslim women where they could swim without compromising their beliefs. According to Naaz Shah, the lack of a special water sports facility meant Muslim women had no opportunity to exercise and as a result they were becoming unfit and depressed. What a load of bollocks. There's a number of things wrong with this story. One Muslim woman does not represent the views of her entire community. Indeed, the chief executive of the Muslim Association said he wasn't aware of any reports of Muslim women being made to feel uncomfortable at pools. And what about questioning Naaz Shah about other forms of exercise?
Obviously, beach volleyball is out for a good, Allah-fearing Muslim girl, but how about fencing? You're covered from head to toe, including a face mask - that should appease even the most fundamentalist of mullahs. If finding a fencing club proves difficult, there's a chain of women-only gyms around the country, many gyms have women-only exercise areas and most pools have women-only training squads. There are walking groups around the country where there are no dress requirements - all you have to do is put one foot in front of the other and you're away.
All of these facilities have been established because it's not just modest Muslim women who are reluctant to expose their bodies to the world. Any overweight man or woman will tell you of the nerve required to take that first step into the pool or gym and their reluctance to step out of their shapeless, formless garments and into exercise gear.
As it is, most people are far too busy getting on with their own routine to be looking at anyone else, but nonetheless, the fear remains and it's not confined to those of a particular belief or faith.
Bored journalists shouldn't be mischievous and Naaz Shah should realise her head isn't there simply to hold up her headscarf. There's a brain in there she could use.
Pertinent Links:
1) Pool tale causes a splash, but holds no water
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
