Muslim leaders to discuss new terror law

New Zealand Muslim Association president Firoz Patel. Photo / Michael Craig

Muslim leaders will meet with police tomorrow to discuss the terror law overhaul and safety concerns following Sunday's fire at a West Auckland mosque.

New Zealand Muslim Association president Firoz Patel many in the community were nervous about the Government's proposal to strengthen anti-terror law including having powers to cancel passports of New Zealanders planning to, or already fighting in overseas conflicts.

"There are people who are a bit upset with the new law coming in," Mr Patel said.

"There's some people who are feeling jittery in the community, so this meeting is to ensure we are on the same page with the police."

The review was in response to the rise of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and the organisation's success in recruiting fighters from overseas, including some from New Zealand, to its cause.

Federation of Islamic Associations secretary Jamaal Green said in a memo to community leaders that this was a time of "heightened security" for the Muslim community here.

"The government is considering special measures as a response to the group known as 'IS' or 'Daesh' and the prime minister has spoken of intelligence warnings of possible threats here in NZ," Mr Green said.

"The purpose of the meeting is to raise our concerns over the implications of this for all of us here...and to discuss these concerns with the police."

Prime Minister John Key said a month long review of New Zealand's anti-terrorism laws could result in recommendations of urgent short term law changes that his Government would pass before Christmas.

One Muslim community leader, who did not want to be named, said he would also be raising the concern that at least two members of the mosque were among the New Zealanders who had tried to join the ISIS cause.

About 40 local Islamic community leaders are expected to attend the meeting at Masjid Mustaffa mosque in Otahuhu tomorrow morning.

Federation president Anwar Ghani said the Avondale mosque blaze and terrorism concerns would be discussed if raised.

"It is not on the agenda, but if it comes in discussion at the meeting than it will be discussed," Dr Ghani said.

"We will take this opportunity to discuss from the community leaders' (perspective), in the current context, how best can we work together to ensure that we have peace and security for our people."

Dr Ghani said the federation will meet separately with key Avondale Islamic Centre representatives to discuss the Blockhouse Bay Rd mosque's future.

Two Islamic factions are battling for control of the mosque, and the centre's Imam Abu Abdulla was banned for allegedly teaching extremist Islam views -- which Mr Abdulla denies.

The mosque has been shut since May due to safety concerns after the centre's administrator was brutally bashed after issuing trespass notices, and worshippers threatened.

A security staff hired to guard the premises was threatened with 'jihad', or holy war.

The centre's storage room was damaged by fire on Sunday which the police said did not start accidentally.

The association had planned to re-open the mosque in a few weeks, but that was now in doubt following the blaze.