ICWNZ In Media

The Muslim community in Aotearoa NewZealand is made up of a diverse group of people of many different ethnicities and countries of origin. Their historical presence dates back to when Indian Muslim sailors came here as crew on European ships in the eighteenth century. A man named Wuzerah and his family became the first known Muslim family to settle here when they arrived in 1854 with British immigrant Cracroft Wilson (1808–1881). [1]

The Muslim community in Aotearoa NewZealand is made up of a diverse group of people of many different ethnicities and countries of origin. Their historical presence dates back to when Indian Muslim sailors came here as crew on European ships in the eighteenth century. A man named Wuzerah and his family became the first known Muslim family to settle here when they arrived in 1854 with British immigrant Cracroft Wilson (1808–1881). [1]

In New Zealand, strong women leaders are regularly referred to as wāhine toa. This is not a term used lightly, but rather a title given to women who show exceptional leadership and continue to support those around them even in the face of enormous difficulties. Some might refer to New Zealand’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, as a wāhine toa, but it can be also used for women within general society who display consistent courage and strength.

It was another long drive, another night away from home and another morning thinking nervously about what they would say, hoping this time they would be taken seriously. Then, in the back room of an Auckland mosque, Anjum Rahman and Aliya Danzeisen sat down in front of TV cameras to explain how they had tried to prevent a terrorist attack.

Reading the Royal Commission report into the Christchurch attack evokes memories of 1984 for Aliya Danzeisen

OPINION: Forty years ago, I was introduced to the works of George Orwell by my English teacher who required our class to read Orwell’s iconic novel 1984 about a dystopian world, where a government held almost all the power, controlled the actions and thoughts of its citizenry, and had technology including two-way screens, hidden cameras and microphones to surveil its people.

The Islamic Women’s Council spent five years trying to get their concerns heard. David Williams tells their story

Aliya Danzeisen was crossing the tarmac at Auckland Airport on March 16 of this year to board a plane to Christchurch, when a jarring text message made her forget herself.

The six-month trial of police armed response teams, introduced in the wake of the Christchurch attacks, ended on Sunday. An evaluation is expected in June, but we don’t need to wait until then to know that routinely arming police isn’t the solution, says Anjum Rahman.

This morning the Christchurch shooter changed tack and entered a guilty plea to 51 counts of murder, 40 of attempted murder and one under the Terrorism Suppression Act. We can now call him what he is: a terrorist. But there are questions that still need to be addressed, writes Anjum Rahman.

Summer journeys: In the fourth of a special travel writing series, Anjum Rahman recounts a return to her place of birth at the age of 12, and reflects on how the history of Muslims in India is being rewritten.

Late last year, the Islamic Women’s Council of NZ’s Anjum Rahman received an email urging her to join the fight against the UN Global Compact on Migration. This was her response.

Recent reporting has joined the dots between groups in New Zealand targeting the UN Global Compact on Migration and neo-Nazi groups offshore. This prompted me to recall an exchange I had at the end of 2018, when I received a message from a mainstream political group promoting a petition against the UN pact. I replied to the email, expressing my disgust and disappointment. A representative wrote back defending their position. As I explained in my response — an abridged version of which is published below — the links between the groups peddling racial hatred were already clear.

We don’t need an anniversary to pray for those who died, to honour the suffering of those who survived. But are we ready to face the complexity of the changes that are needed? An essay by Anjum Rahman.

Anniversaries are a difficult thing. Muslim beliefs around death are quite different. No grave stones or other markings are used. The body is wrapped in calico, and buried without coffins. Funerals are held within a few hours if possible, or the next day. No waiting for relatives to arrive from long distances. Burials are to be done in the place where a person passes, no transporting of bodies home.

In her second column for The Spinoff, activist Anjum Rahman recounts her experience at a recent media event as a way of examining what’s at stake in the free speech debate.

To receive an invitation to the renowned Hamilton Press Club lunch is quite a thing, given that many media personalities and prominent community members attend. I have to say that it felt good to be invited – I felt seen. More than that, the keynote speaker was the constitutional lawyer Moana Jackson, someone who I’ve admired for many years.

In the weeks after the Christchurch we’ve seen those who continue to seek profit from hate. But we’ve also seen an awakening of sorts, and that is where the hope is, writes Anjum Rahman

We barely had time to take a breath from the tragedy in our own country, when another happened in Sri Lanka. In a seemingly endless round of global violence, strike and counter-strike, we seem to be in a state of perpetual grief.

Brenton Harrison Tarrant, who has admitted 51 charges of murder, 40 of attempted murder and one of terrorism in relation to attacks at two Christchurch mosques on 15 March 2019, is being sentenced in the High Court in Christchurch.

The hearing is set down for four days with Justice Cameron Mander expected to hand down his sentence sometime on Thursday.

Yesterday the court heard from 24 victims of the attack.

More than 60 victims are expected to detail their experiences and the effect of the shootings on their lives and the lives of their loved ones.

The staff and families of An Nur Child Education and Care Christchurch, a Muslim early learning centre, have experienced an outpouring of support since the tragic events of 15 March last year.

The High Court in Christchurch has heard how the Australian terrorist who carried out attacks on two mosques in March 2019 deliberately and methodically killed 51 people and injured 40 more because he wanted to reduce New Zealand’s immigration rates.

As Mohammad Alayan lay on the floor of the Al Noor Mosque bleeding profusely from two gunshot wounds, he prayed his son had been late to prayers.

Tragically, after being rushed to hospital, he discovered Ata Elayyan was among the 44 dead at the Christchurch mosque on March 15 last year.

• Court hears of killer’s spree 

Dr Alayan, the chairman of Dunedin’s An-Nur early childhood centre, gave a tearful victim impact statement in the High Court at Christchurch yesterday as he came face to face with his son’s killer.

Maysoon Salama, whose son was killed in the massacre, says survivors miss their loved ones, but are working hard to bring the community together.

At the childcare centre my husband and I run in Christchurch, most of the children would have had somebody in their family who was injured during the attack or knew somebody who was injured.