Race-hate victims urged to call police

By HELEN TUNNAH

Police are appealing to Wellington's Muslims to tell them if they have been sent any race hate letters in the last three years after a man was arrested yesterday.

At least 25 letters are believed to have been sent to members of the Islamic community since 2001, with 13 sparking police complaints.

The letters were personally addressed, and at least one named the child of a recipient.

Some of the envelopes contained pieces of pork.

A 53-year-old man was granted name suppression when he appeared in the Upper Hutt District Court yesterday on one charge of criminal harassment, which carries a maximum penalty of two years' jail.

Police say they are considering further charges.

International Muslim Association spokeswoman Rehana Ali told reporters yesterday the arrest had boosted the community. "It has quite a significant impact, particularly when it comes direct to your home."

Detective Inspector Harry Quinn said police searched an Upper Hutt business and house early yesterday morning.

The arrest came after forensic and fingerprint results were received.

Mr Quinn would not say how the man alleged to have sent the letters found out people's private addresses and details about their families.

The first complaint about a letter was received by police in November 2001, and in September this year the Somali community contacted police to say a number of women had received extremely offensive letters.

Mr Quinn would not say what was in the letters, but previous media reports said one included the message, "Get out of Israel Islamic pigs". Nor would he comment on the religion, if any, of the man who has been charged.

Police did not believe any organisation was involved. Mr Quinn said he hoped Islamic community members would have the confidence to contact police if they had also received letters.

"We know that there will be other members of the Islamic community who have received similar personally addressed letters," he said.

"We have been told that many of them were so upset by their contents that they destroyed the letters and didn't tell anyone about them."

The vice president of Wellington's Somali Council, Adam Awad, said the letters had left people worried about their own safety and that of their children.