PRESS
RELEASE
NEW
ZEALAND MUSLIMS CONDEMN SELF-MUTILATION
On behalf of the entire Muslim community of New Zealand, the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand Inc. (F.I.A.N.Z.) would like to categorically dissociate itself from the events of last Saturday night in Auckland where a man claiming to be Muslim was mutilated at a public gathering. The Ulema Board (religious advisors) of the Federation have pronounced the act undertaken as totally un-Islamic and as having nothing to do with Islam.
New Zealand Muslims repudiate this conduct wholeheartedly. We are deeply concerned that the Media quickly reported this as an Islamic ritual when the overwhelming majority of the Muslim community in New Zealand reject such practices and make such great efforts to ensure it is not carried out in our holy mosques. The holy faith of Islam has no place for self-mutilation and condemns such activities as last Saturday night as shamanism bordering heresy. We call upon the Media to show more caution in future when using the appellation “Islamic” or “Muslim” as many of our people take grave offence at being associated with such behaviour as was exhibited.
The
F.I.A.N.Z. believes the New Zealand Police would be entirely correct to charge
the person responsible for this incident with inciting a culture of
self-mutilation. This would appear to be a criminal act. This kind of activity
needs to be prevented with the full force of the law.
Dr
Hj Anwarul Ghani
PRESIDENT
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ENDS -