SAFVPN appalled by Daryush Valizadeh and Return of Kings Organisation
SAFVPN (Safer Aotearoa Family Violence Prevention Network) supports calls by Wellington Rape Crisis and others to block
Valizadeh’s entry to Australia. SAFVPN would further support calls to block his entry if he tried to enter New Zealand.
Daryush Valizadeh represents a pro-rape, criminal organisation ‘Return of Kings’ which advocates for legalising rape and
degrading women.
SAFVPN has worked for 20+ years assisting victims of domestic and intimate partner violence. SAFVPN advocates for the
elimination of these and other forms of violence in Aotearoa and works tirelessly in such efforts.
SAFVPN Manager Raewyn Bhana says ‘Working on the front line, we know that rape is a tool of control and a way of utterly
degrading the mana of the victims we deal with on a day to day basis’.
SAFVPN Co-Chair Dr. Lorna Dyall said ‘We come so far in our work and then things like this happen. It tells us there is
more to do. We call on our Government to take stronger action to ensure that RAPE is not a normal part of New Zealand
society’.
SAFVPN’s George Ngatai said ‘As a man, I am standing up for the rights of women and of families to live in safety. We
must support and protect our whanau. Calls by Mr. Valizadeh go against everything I stand for and everything that SAFVPN
stands for”.
Dr Dyall adds that “The values of this group are totally at odds with tangata whenua, where men and women are equal and
are not the slaves of so called kings”
SAFVPN will continue to work to prevent domestic and intimate partner violence in all forms. SAFVPN stands ready to
assist all whanau everywhere to do so for themselves also.
ENDS