Venkat Raman (Indian Newslink)
Auckland, June 7, 2018
Counties Manukau District Police (Auckland) scored a first for the New Zealand Police tonight by hosting Iftar Prayer followed by Dinner at its Headquarters in Manukau.
Organised by Sergeant Gurpreet Arora and Constable Satvir Sen, the event, compered by Western Area Commander Inspector Nyla Hassan, was attended by more than 150 men and women, primarily representing the Muslim community in South Auckland, where a $15 million complex of the Federation of Islamic Association of New Zealand (FIANZ) is to be built.
Peaceful People
Speaking on the occasion, Counties Manukau Police District Commander Superintendent Jill Rogers paid tributes to the Muslim community, saying that Muslims are among the most law-abiding, tolerant and quiet people.
“We are honoured to host this Iftar Prayer and Dinner for our Muslim people who are observing the Holy Month of Ramadan. We work closely with all communities and look to expand diversity within our Police force. We are proud to have Muslim men and women in our District,” she said.
Among the other speakers at the Iftar event were Human Rights Commission Race Relations Advisor Rakesh Naidoo and this Reporter.
Imam Al Haji Molvi Abdul Shafeez of Masjid Al Mustafa of the South Auckland Muslim Association initiated the Iftar Prayer and recited excerpts from the Holy Quran.
The spirit of Ramadan
Most Muslims fast during daylight hours during the Holy Month of Ramadan.
The fast is broken at sunset each night with a large meal called Iftar.
Muslims are urged to invite others to break the fast with them.
Iftar is an opportunity for non-Muslims to get to know their Muslim neighbours.
In many countries, people of other faiths host their Muslim neighbours for Iftar meals.
The simple gesture of sharing a meal builds solidarity and understanding between people of different faiths.
Muslims in New Zealand
The number of Muslims in New Zealand is about 52,000, up 28% from 36,072 in the 2006.
New Zealand now has a number of Mosques in the major centres, and two Islamic schools (Al Madinah and Zayed College for Girls).
New Zealand Muslims are ethnically diverse, tracing their origins to more than 50 countries, including many second and third generation, New Zealand born Muslims, Maori and Pakeha.
The community is small compared to other Western nations such as the US, France, Britain, and Germany. Like all early populations in New Zealand, the Muslim community comprised entirely of immigrants.
Early Settlers
New Zealand’s first Muslim immigrants were fifteen Chinese gold diggers Dunstan, in the South Island, recorded in the government census of April 1874.
Several Muslim men arrived as migrants in the 1890s and early 1900s.
Gujaratis and Punjabis followed them.
By 1950, New Zealand accounted for 155 Muslims, followed by a boatload of European refugees including 60 Muslims from Albania, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia. Most of them chosen Auckland as the city of their choice.
The 1960s saw the arrival of the first Asian students who were followed in the 1970s by an influx of Indo-Fijians (including a number of Muslims) the majority of whom settled in Auckland.
The following years saw a steady rise in the Muslim population, partly due to the arrival of increasing migrant arrivals and partly due to conversion of people of other faiths to Islam.
Majority from Fiji
The ensuing two decades accounted for a sharp rise in the number of Muslims from Fiji and India, soon to become the largest group of Muslims in New Zealand.
In the 1990s, Somali refugees and Middle Eastern immigrants began settling in the main cities along with a large increase in overseas students, including upper level secondary students, university undergraduates and graduate students, and some professionals in specialist courses.
Muslims today are successful lawyers, barristers, solicitors, accountants, consultants, manufacturers, traders, shippers, medical practitioners, media executives and other professionals. Among them are also writers, scholars, and a parliamentarian.
Muslim women are active in various professions and speak out on issues of concern to the community and the country
*
Photo Caption:
- District Commander Superintendent Jill Rogers with guests at the Counties Manukau Iftar Party
- Imam Al Haji Molvi Abdul Shafeez leading the Iftar Prayer at Counties Manukau Police Iftar Party
- Rakesh Naidoo with Religious Leader Sheikh Mohammed Amir
- Muslims offering Iftar Prayer at Counties Manukau Police event
- Sergeant Gurpreet Arora speaking at the event (to the far left is Constable Satvir Sen)
(Pictures Supplied)
