David Rankin
Following an uncalled attack on the graves of about 200 of our fallen New Zealand soldiers in Libya, an apology and acknowledgment is now being demanded.
Ngāpuhi leader David Rankin has written to the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand urging that it officially condemns recent attacks on the graves of New Zealand soldiers in North Africa.
“The recent vandalism of these sacred sites by Islamic activists was an outrage,” says Rankin, “and yet the New Zealand Muslim community has refused to condemn it.” Mr. Rankin has written to the Federation’s chairman asking for a public condemnation of the war graves attack but has received no reply.
“We as Māori fought and died in the war as the price of citizenship. Muslims in New Zealand need to reflect on what their price of citizenship is,” says Mr. Rankin. “If the shoe was on the other foot, if a New Zealander burnt a copy of the Koran, there would be outrage. Yet when Muslims desecrate that which is sacred to us, we don’t even get an apology and no condemnation of this action.”
Mr. Rankin says that his message for the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand is a simple one: “in the words of the ANZAC dedication, we will remember them.”
Source: Press Release – David Rankin
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