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November 24, 2005
New Zealand: Green Minister Objects To Muslim Border Checks
According to Scoop, the Immigration Spokesperson for the Green Party, Keith Locke, objects to Muslims being subjected to questioning when they re-enter New Zealand.
Locke (pictured) says "Immigration officials are acting like political police. They are interrogating New Zealanders whose only 'crime' is to have a Muslim sounding name - or maybe to have visited an Islamic country. They are spending so much time detaining upstanding Muslim New Zealanders that they probably wouldn't notice if a real terrorist slipped through."
"Immigration profiling is now bordering on racism, and needs to be stopped. I am asking the Government for its statistics on the nationality and religion of those held for questioning at our airports. The targeting of Muslims has become worse since Winston Peters started attacking Iraqis in the House and an Immigration Profiling Group was set up last May. We don't want to get like George Bush's America, where Homeland Security treats Muslims as second-class citizens."
Javed Khan of the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand has said that he has had a number of Muslims, some tearful, complaining because they were interrogated for no valid reason.
The Immigration Service refuses to apologise for a move described by Islam Online as "racist".
The Department of Labour said immigration officers will detain anyone who they believe requires further checks.This is what happens when terrorism is threatened by some Muslims, now matter how small the actual number advocating jihad. It may upset people, but since 9/11 and subsequent events, all Muslims have become viewed as a potential threat. It may cause distress to some, but if they choose to migrate to a country which is not historically Muslim and feel they can come and go as if there is no climate of global threat, they will have to undergo some questioning. It is usual for customs officers to question people returning to a country, so why not Immigration Officers?There are nearly 17,000 Muslims in New Zealand, comprising less than one percent of the total population.
Governmental census figures show that the Muslim population has doubled every five years for the past 25 years.
New Zealand also has a large export oriented dairy and Halal meat industry whose products are found in all gulf countries and other Middle Eastern countries.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at November 24, 2005 9:05 AM
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