Snapshots of the past

The Islamic Library (Al Marifa Library) of Al Manaar Trust is situated at 166 Stoddard Road, Mt Roskill (Auckland). It is conveniently situated diagonally opposite Masjid e Umar. The library is open from 5pm to 8pm every day, including Sundays. Saturday is reserved for the ladies. To view the complete    article, click here.


   IRAQI COMMUNITY DEMONISED:   Al Mujaddid, July 2005

A public meeting by the Iraqi Community Council was held at the Pakuranga Community Centre on 5 June 2005 to address and 'stand up against the incredible allegations directed at the Iraqi Community by Hon. Winston Peters, leader of the New Zealand First Party, under Parliamentary privileges.' To view the complete    article, click here.


   WINSTON PETERS STIRS STORM OF CRITICISM:   The Dominion Post, July 30, 2005

Winston Peters' claim that Muslims are harbouring a "militant underbelly" has drawn a hail of criticism but he remains unrepentant. Assistant Police Commissioner Jon White said no evidence existed of militant Islamic groups operating in New Zealand. Neither Mr Peters nor Auckland student Shahin    Soltanian, who made initial claims about radical groups, has approached police. To view the    complete article, click here.


   DON'T CONDEMN ALL MUSLIMS, SAYS SOLTANIAN:   Stuff.co.nz, July 29, 2005

There are people who sympathise with Islamic extremism in New Zealand but condemning all Muslims only isolates the entire Muslim community, says Auckland student Shahin Soltanian. Mr Soltanian - a past president of Auckland University's Islamic Society - has been cited by New Zealand First leader Winston    Peters as the source of his claims there is a "militant underbelly" in New Zealand. "There are    definitely people who encourage extremist views and who sympathise with extremist views,"    Mr Soltanian said today. "Whether there is an underlying militant group, I'm not sure of that."    To view the complete article, click here.


   MUSLIM OUTRAGE AT PETERS CLAIMS:   The Dominion Post, July 29, 2005

Muslim leaders have hit out at NZ First leader Winston Peters for claiming New Zealand has a "militant underbelly" of Islamic extremists with the potential for London-style suicide bombings. In a speech to Far North Grey Power, Mr Peters raised the spectre of Islamic terrorism and revealed he had written to Muslim    leaders asking them to report "radicals, troublemakers and potential dangers" to police. To    view the complete article, click here.


   RADICAL MUSLIMS ON CAMPUS:   The Dominion Post, July 25, 2005

Radical Muslim terrorist groups have sent representatives to New Zealand who have preached their beliefs at Auckland University, a student says. Shahin Soltanian, the past president of Auckland University's Islamic Society, told TV One's Agenda programme on Saturday that he had encountered sympathisers of    such terrorist groups on the university campus. They included people from the outlawed    movements Al Haramain, Hizb Ut-Tahrir and Wahhabi... To view the complete article, click    here.


   CARTER'S MOSQUE VISIT CRITICIZED:   Stuff.co.nz, July 24, 2005

Muslim leaders have distanced themselves from an email that criticised Ethnic Affairs Minister Chris Carter's visit to an Auckland mosque last week because he was a "raging homosexual". Carter attended a meeting at the Ponsonby mosque on Wednesday night with Labour MP Ashraf Choudhary, Police Commissioner    Rob Robinson and 50 leaders and members of Auckland's Muslim community. They    discussed promoting better understanding of Islam after the July 10 attacks on Auckland    mosques. But Christchurch Muslim Abdullah Drury sent a message to Muslim email groups    objecting to Carter's attendance because he was a "raging homosexual". To view the complete    article, click here.


   KIWIS IN IRAQ CUT ADRIFT:   The Dominion Post, July 23, 2005

Kiwis working in Iraq have been stripped of vital security protection in a move some fear is retribution for New Zealand's refusal to support the American-led war. But the Government disputes it has been snubbed by the United States and will not intervene. It has repeated warnings that Kiwis should not be in Iraq and    that those who go should expect little help if in trouble. To view the complete article, click    here.


   TERROR INFO DISTRIBUTORS WARNED:   The Dominion Post, July 23, 2005

Anyone who distributes publications promoting acts of terrorism faces 10 years in jail, government watchdogs are warning. The spotlight has been thrown on access to books and websites that incite terrorism as London reels from more attempted bomb attacks against its citizens. In Australia, calls have been made for some    Islamic books, apparently encouraging terrorism, to be removed from shelves. To view the    complete article, click here.


   HATE MAIL SENDER CONVICTED:   The Dominion Post, July 21, 2005

Muslim women would have feared for their safety after receiving religious hate mail from a man found guilty of harassment, a judge says. The man, whose name is suppressed, has been found guilty of harassing three women by sending offensive and insulting mail to their homes knowing it would make them fear for    their safety over a three-year period. To view the complete article, click here.


   THE FALL OF GRAHAM CAPILL:   Sue Eden in the Manawatu Standard, July 15, 2005

As Christian Heritage Party leader, Graham Capill spoke out against sex before marriage and spent almost 14 years espousing "pro-family" policies. But the life he led proved far from the moralistic one he preached, as one by one allegations he had indecently assaulted and raped girls emerged. Capill, 46, last month    pleaded guilty in Christchurch District Court to rape, unlawful sexual connection, and three    counts of indecent assault against two girls under 12. To view the complete article, click here.


   BACKLASH HITS NZ MOSQUES:   Sophie Neville in The Dominion Post, July 11, 2005

New Zealand Muslims have become the victims of a London terrorist bombing backlash and fear attacks will become violent. Six Auckland mosques were attacked at the weekend and a Wellington Muslim centre has received abusive phone calls in the fallout from Thursday's deadly bombings. Muslims arrrived at    their places of worship in Ponsonby, South Auckland, Mt Roskill, Blockhouse Bay and West    Auckland yesterday morning to smashed windows and graffiti scrawled across buildings... To    view the complete article, click here.


   GOVERNMENT TAKES OVER SCHOOL:   The New Zealand Herald, June 29, 2005

The country's only co-educational Islamic school has been put under direct Government control amid concerns that its cultural environment is clashing with its education obligations. Al-Madinah School in Mangere, Manukau City, has been under fire for several years for prioritising religion at the expense of the    curriculum and segregating staff and students according to gender. Successive Education    Review Office reports have drawn attention to problems of "governance and segregation",    and a limited statutory manager was installed in 2002. To view the complete article, click    here.