NZ mosque

NZ mosque

Dalziel asked to rule on mosque legality.

Christchurch Press. 27 October 2003. Amanda Spratt.

Questions over the legality of a bid to give control of Christchurch’s only mosque to a trust dominated by a controversial Saudi-based charity will be raised with Minister of Commerce Lianne Dalziel.

Christchurch Central MP Tim Barnett met with about 15 Muslim community representatives on Saturday to discuss concerns about the Muslim Association of Canterbury (MAC) and its management.

The controversy, which seems to have been simmering since a new committee was elected last year, came to a head when details emerged of a proposed sale of the mosque to a trust dominated by the Al-Haramain Foundation, a charitable organization with alleged links to the al-Qaeda terrorist network.

Mr Barnett was pleased with the progress made in the meeting.

“There’s now a group of people who represent what I think is a great proportion of the Muslim community with a clear set of questions…”

The representatives concerns included claims by MAC that a vote was passed in favor of the trust deal at a recent general assembly.

There are conflicting reports over who is a registered member of MAC – only registered members can vote – and whether a majority was present.

Some committee members were not aware of the details of the proposal until last week.

Mr Barnett encouraged members of the Muslim community to register so that they could have a say.

Doubts were also raised over the validity of two alterations to MAC’s constitution and the sale of MAC’s Tuam street property last year.

Mr Barnett said questions about the constitution validity of MAC’s dealings would be directed to Ms Dalziel’s office.

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Ms Dalziel could not be contacted for comment.

The representatives also canvassed concerns about threats to national security and the risk of losing the city’s mosque to overseas control.