William of the White Hand
Junior News Editor
Cleric's in hate speech?? Muslims say otherwise. And as for 9-year-old girls - it's all party time.
Cleric's comments harmless, say Muslims
By JANINE BENNETTS - The Press | Wednesday, 14 February 2007
Muslims say a cleric accused of spreading hate speech made "harmless" comments and promoted interaction with all religions while in New Zealand.
American-born Sheikh Khalid Yasin, who spoke in Christchurch as a guest of the Muslim Association of Canterbury in 2005, was shown in an undercover British documentary last month allegedly inciting hatred at a British mosque. In the documentary, Yasin predicts that Jews will be exterminated on Judgment Day and advocates a subordinate role for women.
Dr Mohammad Alayan, who saw Yasin speak in Christchurch in 2005, said Yasin's comments were the opposite of what had been alleged.
Alayan said Yasin was encouraging Muslims to be more open, and to get out of the mosque to interact with Christians and the wider community. "He left a very good impression in the community," he said. "We never came across what has been said in the newspaper."
Muslim Association of Canterbury treasurer, Farouk Shah, said he was very surprised to hear the allegations about Yasin.
"He was always talking about building bridges with the Jews and Christians, not breaking it. He was always talking about getting on with the people of the world."
Islamic scholar Bilal Phillips, who is shown in the documentary arguing that it was permissible to marry off a nine-year-old girl because the Prophet Muhammad had done so, also visited New Zealand last year.
Immigration Minister David Cunliffe said he had asked his department to look into the matter and report back.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/3960916a10.html
Cleric's comments harmless, say Muslims
By JANINE BENNETTS - The Press | Wednesday, 14 February 2007
Muslims say a cleric accused of spreading hate speech made "harmless" comments and promoted interaction with all religions while in New Zealand.
American-born Sheikh Khalid Yasin, who spoke in Christchurch as a guest of the Muslim Association of Canterbury in 2005, was shown in an undercover British documentary last month allegedly inciting hatred at a British mosque. In the documentary, Yasin predicts that Jews will be exterminated on Judgment Day and advocates a subordinate role for women.
Dr Mohammad Alayan, who saw Yasin speak in Christchurch in 2005, said Yasin's comments were the opposite of what had been alleged.
Alayan said Yasin was encouraging Muslims to be more open, and to get out of the mosque to interact with Christians and the wider community. "He left a very good impression in the community," he said. "We never came across what has been said in the newspaper."
Muslim Association of Canterbury treasurer, Farouk Shah, said he was very surprised to hear the allegations about Yasin.
"He was always talking about building bridges with the Jews and Christians, not breaking it. He was always talking about getting on with the people of the world."
Islamic scholar Bilal Phillips, who is shown in the documentary arguing that it was permissible to marry off a nine-year-old girl because the Prophet Muhammad had done so, also visited New Zealand last year.
Immigration Minister David Cunliffe said he had asked his department to look into the matter and report back.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/3960916a10.html