RAM doing what SIS refuses to do

"The Security Intelligence Service's U-turn on Ahmed Zaoui is long overdue," said Grant Morgan, organiser of RAM - Residents Action Movement.

"The SIS now openly admit that Mr Zaoui is not a 'security risk' to New Zealand. This is good. What would be better is if the SIS were to also publicly state that there is no visible 'security risk' arising from New Zealand's peaceful Muslim community."

"A couple of months ago, RAM organised three Voices of Peace meetings attended by1,500 Aucklanders. They came along to help RAM stop the hate attacks by extreme right Islamophobes from Australia who were touring this country with the intention of starting a 'holy war' against our Muslim sisters and brothers."

"These Islamophobes were claiming that mosques are 'centres of war' where Muslims are preparing to kill, rape and enslave other New Zealanders unless they convert to Islam."

"The SIS knows that such bigoted claims are nonsense. The SIS knows that not a single New Zealand Muslim has ever been charged for any 'terrorist' act, let alone convicted. Yet the SIS did not make any public denunciation of the hate message being spread inside New Zealand by the Australian Islamophobes."

"If state organisations like the SIS were really even-handed in their treatment of all people in New Zealand, they would be standing up for the rights of Muslims being defamed by the preachers of hate. Sadly, there is no evidence that this is the case," said Grant Morgan.

"RAM is filling the gap by campaigning in the Auckland council elections for the politics of social inclusion. RAM has erected billboards across Greater Auckland featuring a woman in a hijab under the slogan 'We all belong here - protect our communities.' People of all backgrounds, cultures and religions are hosting this RAM billboard on their fences."

"It is a sad commentary on our times that RAM is doing the work of combating racial and religious bigotry which state organisations like the SIS refuse to do," said Grant Morgan.

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