Comdemning Muslims isolates entire community, says Peters' source

Winston Peters

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."

About 30 Auckland University students attended sermons and lecturers last year by representatives of the Al Haramain Islamic Foundation and Hizb Ut-Tahrir, Mr Soltanian said.

"These two organisations are well-known to be extremist," he told National Radio.

Al Haramain was outlawed in New Zealand following last year's visit and Hizb Ut-Tahrir supported suicide bombings in Iraq, he said.

"These extremist views were brought into New Zealand.

"There are extremist sympathisers and people who condone these kinds of views."

The Muslim community was already divided on many issues such as world politics and its place in New Zealand society, Mr Soltanian said.

"I think that the Muslim community in general should work together to root out any extremist ideology that is being spread in New Zealand."

The Muslim community in general should not be tainted with claims of extremism.

"By condemning the whole Muslim community, those who adhere to the peaceful message (of Islam) are being isolated by the mainstream community and those extremists that might call them Western servants or infidels."

There was no evidence extremist sympathisers were planning terror attacks in New Zealand, he said.

Mr Peters said yesterday many immigrants came to New Zealand from societies with no freedom of speech.

"We cannot take our tradition of toleration for granted when we are importing fanatics for whom that tradition is alien."

Political leaders were quick to condemn his comments with Prime Minister Helen Clark saying Mr Peters was known for trying to "crank up these kinds of issues" before elections.

Greens MP Keith Locke said it was "shameful" Mr Peters was "cultivating such prejudice against Muslim people in order to raise his poll rating".

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia also criticised Mr Peters, saying he was guilty of "political posturing at its very worst".

Mr Peters has successfully used attacks on immigration policy in previous election campaigns.

It was a key feature of his 2002 campaign, when his party won 10.4 per cent of the vote and 13 MPs, making it the third largest party in Parliament.

- NZPA