The tragic burning of Ranjeeta Sharma has highlighted the need for greater support for victims of domestic abuse within ethnic communities in New Zealand, says the Waitakere Ethnic Board.

28 year old Ranjeeta Sharma, a Fijian passport holder of Indian origin was found burning by the roadside in Huntly on Friday 21st January. Ms Sharma was identified 2 days later. Her husband (a person of interest to the investigation) who had left the country with the couple’s 4 year old son was found by police on 25th January.

“We strongly condemn this tragic incident, which has nothing to do with race or culture,” said Amail Habib, CEO, “this is violence against a woman by her partner and it is important that this is understood as the issue at the heart of the matter.”

Alarm has been raised within the Indian and ethnic community about the portrayal within some media as the violence being an ‘honour killing’. This sort of labeling, claims the Board, distracts from the real issue in such matters, that of the high level of domestic violence in New Zealand.

ENDS