http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/clark-condemns-attacks-on-six- auckland-mosques/2005/07/10/1120934128801.html
Clark condemns attacks on six Auckland mosques July 11, 2005 Auckland: Auckland's Muslim community has found six mosques vandalised and walls tagged in graffiti with the message "Londoners RIP" following the terrorist bombings in London that killed more than 50 people. In what appeared to be co-ordinated attacks in central, south and west Auckland, vandals smashed windows and doors and left messages in black paint on walls facing the street. Muslim leaders and government ministers condemned the attacks yesterday. The New Zealand Federation of Islamic Associations president, Javed Khan, said it was the first time an attack of this scale had occurred against the country's 40,000 Muslims, about 25,000 of whom live in Auckland. Mosques in Ponsonby, Mount Roskill, Blockhouse Bay, Ranui and two in Otahuhu were attacked early yesterday. There are about 14 Islamic places of worship in Auckland. Mr Khan said Muslims were "shocked and saddened" by the incidents in London and appealed to the community to be calm and tolerant to the overnight attacks in Auckland. "We do not tolerate terrorism. Islam does not tolerate terrorism. It condemns anyone taking the life of an innocent person," Mr Khan said. . AdvertisementAdvertisement The Foreign Affairs Minister, Phil Goff, one of four Labour MPs attending the gathering Mr Khan was addressing at Masjid Al-Mustafa mosque, said they had come to "express solidarity with you in the face of this mindless and stupid vandalism". The Police Minister, George Hawkins, who was also present, said police would increase patrols at mosques in Auckland. The Prime Minister, Helen Clark, was also quick to condemn the attacks, saying it was wrong to target the Muslim community in New Zealand in retaliation for the terrorist attacks in London. "New Zealand's Muslim community is overwhelmingly a law-abiding and peaceful community," she said. On Saturday arsonists attacked a mosque on Birkenhead, Merseyside, 345 kilometres north-west of London. Police said the fire broke out at the Wirral Islamic Cultural Centre, Shahjalal Mosque, early in the morning. The building was empty, but a man who lives in a flat above the mosque was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene. Chief Superintendent Alan Jones, of Merseyside Police, described the attack as "senseless and very dangerous". New Zealand Press Association, Press Association -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: [email protected] Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
