“Dr Sahib was the secretary of one of the federation’s committees. He retains his role as the president of the Al-Taqwa mosque.”
Why? Either the Muslims of New Zealand approve of his anti-Semitic remarks, or they don’t. This reaction is equivocal.
Meanwhile, what will New Zealand authorities do when they discover that the Qur’an depicts the Jews as fabricating things and falsely ascribing them to Allah (2:79; 3:75, 3:181, 5:64); loving to listen to lies (5:41); disobeying Allah and never observing his commands (5:13); disputing and quarreling (2:247); hiding the truth and misleading people (3:78); staging rebellion against the prophets and rejecting their guidance (2:55); being hypocritical (2:14, 2:44); giving preference to their own interests over the teachings of Muhammad (2:87); wishing evil for people and trying to mislead them (2:109); feeling pain when others are happy or fortunate (3:120); being arrogant about their being Allah’s beloved people (5:18); devouring people’s wealth by subterfuge (4:161); slandering the true religion and being cursed by Allah (4:46); killing the prophets (2:61); being merciless and heartless (2:74); never keeping their promises or fulfilling their words (2:100); being unrestrained in committing sins (5:79); being cowardly (59:13-14); being miserly (4:53); and more?
“Controversial cleric stood down by Islamic Federation,” RNZ, November 23, 2016:
A Muslim cleric criticised for anti-Semitic speeches at an Auckland mosque has been permanently stood down from his role in the Federation of Islamic Associations (FIANZ).
The speeches made by Shaykh Dr Mohammed Anwar Sahib at the Al-Taqwa mosque, in Manukau, have been widely condemned, but the cleric said he had been misinterpreted.
Dr Sahib was the secretary of one of the federation’s committees. He retains his role as the president of the Al-Taqwa mosque.
In a statement released this morning, FIANZ said it “vehemently opposed all teaching promoting intolerance, prejudice and discrimination against the followers of any faith”.
The Human Rights Commission is investigating the comments and FIANZ said it would fully cooperate with the commission.
“We thank New Zealanders for their feedback, solidarity and support,” its statement said.
The comments emerged in video footage published on the blog Whale Oil, which Dr Sahib said had been compiled from several different sermons and taken out of context.
FIANZ president Hazim Arafeh said the organisation did not agree with any comments made by Dr Sahib.
“We do have a consultation process that we go through, and then FIANZ decided that it has to distance itself from any anti-Semitic or hate speeches.”
Dr Sahib has declined a request for an interview.
Ethnic Communities Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga welcomed FIANZ’s move, saying he believed that was the right thing to do.
New Zealand Jewish Council spokesperson David Cumin said, while it was glad FIANZ had stood down Dr Sahib from its organisation, it was worrying he was still able to preach.
“It’s still concerning that he might still be able to influence people at his mosque though and I hope he is watched closely,” Mr Cumin said.
The Human Rights Commission said it had received 17 complaints about Dr Sahib and it was investigating….