New Zealand’s human rights chief Stephen Rainbow has apologized for “Islamophobic” remarks after he obtained sturdy criticism from Jewish and Muslim teams, in response to stories Wednesday.
Rainbow stated in an announcement that New Zealand has no place for Islamophobia and that he personally apologized to the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ).
His feedback indicating that Muslims are the best menace to the Jewish neighborhood on the island as a substitute of the white supremacists drew criticism from the consultant of Alternative Jewish Voices — Philippa Yasbek and Dayenu: Jews Against Occupation — two anti-Zionist Jewish organizations, together with FIANZ, in response to New Zealand Radio.
Yasbek despatched an e mail to Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and FIANZ after a Feb. 24 assembly with Rainbow, Race Relations Commissioner Melissa Derby and two Human Rights Commission staffers, throughout which Rainbow’s remarks have been made.
Yasbek informed Goldsmith that “Dr Rainbow asserted that the SIS (Security Intelligence Service) threat assessment shows that Muslims pose a greater threat to the Jewish community in New Zealand than white supremacists,” and “white supremacists make up the bulk of violent extremists in Aotearoa,” utilizing the Mori world for New Zeland.
In a separate e mail to FIANZ, Yasbek cited Rainbow’s remarks and expressed anger, saying: “How does one complain about a racist Human Rights Commissioner?”
FIANZ expressed disappointment in an announcement after Yasbek’s e mail, criticizing Rainbow for making “racist and Islamophobic statements in his official capacity as the head of the Human Rights Commission.”
“Dr. Stephen Rainbow has seriously devalued and denigrated the office … and this should be an alarming warning bell for human rights in this country,” it stated.
Goldsmith, who, in response to The Spinoff news outlet appointed Rainbow to the place regardless of an impartial panel deeming him “not recommended” for the publish, stated the justice minister didn’t intend to ask Rainbow to resign.
Source: www.anews.com.tr