Popular academics such as John Esposito at Georgetown and author Karen Armstrong believe that religion – Islam, in this case – is the “circumstantial” bit and that the real causes of Islamist violence are poverty, political marginalization, cultural isolation, and other forms of alienation, including real or perceived discrimination against Muslims. Because of its overseas evangelism, the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity, or Unification Church (Tongilgyo), founded in 1954 by Reverend Sun Myung Moon (Mun Son-myong), also coming from Christian roots, is the most famous Korean new religion. Armstrong’s study of the Bible led him to conclude that it was the inspired word of God, that Jewish holy days, festivals, and dietary restrictions (Leviticus 11) should be observed, and that the Sabbath should be honoured on Saturday. In 2004 Sheikh Eshaq led the Quran Tilawat at the “National Islamic Converts Conference” at the Canterbury mosque in Christchurch.

The opposition New Zealand National Party’s foreign affairs spokesperson Gerry Brownlee also urged the incumbent Labour-New Zealand First-Green coalition government to expel Ghahremani. Peters indicated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade had summoned Ghahremani to express its disapproval. Ghahremani later clarified that his actions represented the Iranian government’s official position on Israel. These remarks were criticised by the New Zealand Jewish Council and the pro-Israel think tank the Israel Institute of New Zealand, who advocated Ghahremani’s expulsion. In late October 2017, it was reported in the media that the first secretary of the Iranian Embassy Hormoz Ghahremani, the visiting Iranian cleric Hojatoleslam Shafie, and community elder Sayed Taghi Derhami had made remarks denying the Holocaust and attacking Israel at the Shia Islamic Ahlulbayt Foundation in Pakuranga, Auckland during a meeting to commemorate Quds Day in June. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who founded al-Qaeda’s franchise in Iraq, evoked ancient anti-Shia fatwas, or religious rulings, to spark a civil war in hopes that the Shia majority would eventually capitulate in the face of Sunni extremist violence. In recent years Shia Muslims have become active holding Ashura commemoration programmes in Auckland parks.

The leader of the AMMA, Sheikh Eshaq Te Amorangi Morgan Kireka-Whaanga was identified in 2010 among the top 500 most influential Muslims. 21. Heidegger, Martin. 2010. Country Path Conversations. Each seraph has six wings, four of which they used to cover themselves in the presence of God as a sign of humility; they use the other two to fly. On 23 December 2020, six posters depicting Muhammad taken from the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and hostile messages were plastered on the Queenstown Islamic Centre, which had opened on 11 December. On 15 March 2019, a terrorist attacked worshippers at two mosques in Christchurch, killing 51 people, including 42 at the Al Noor Mosque in Riccarton, 7 at the Linwood Islamic Centre, and 2 who died in hospital. The Muslim community registered its displeasure through press statements and a small peaceful march in Auckland. A third Auckland Muslim school Iqra primary school restricted access as a safeguard. On 9 September 2024, two Muslim schools Al-Madinah School and Zayed College in Mangere, Auckland went into lockdown after receiving an email threat. The email featured a video of man showing guns in a car and randomly shooting.

Science and technological development know only how to take the raw material of the world and turn it to man’s advantage; they require man to tell them what this advantage is. After that, they will turn toward other dreams, such as creating change. Dunedin is home to a mosque called Al-Huda mosque, which is run by the Otago Muslim Association. Rightly is he called the Lamp, the Mind, the Ruler of the Universe: Hermes Trismegistus entitles him the God Visible. 2023. Writing About Gratitude Toward God Produces Differential Content and Outcomes Compared to Gratitude Toward Other Benefactors Among U.S. Gamal Fouda, an imam who survived the attack at Al Noor mosque, said “last Friday I stood in this mosque and saw hatred and rage in the eyes of the terrorist, but today from the same place I look out and I see the love and compassion in the eyes of thousands of New Zealanders and human beings from around the globe”.