The Islamic Women’s Council of New Zealand leadership believes that the characters of individuals, communities and
nations are revealed in how they act not in good times, but rather in periods of strife and challenge. If nations
including New Zealand believe in human rights and the rule of law, then we must underscore the crucial importance of
consistently adhering to that set of principles in words, actions, and law…to do otherwise, is hypocritical and will
only promote more global violence.
Last year alone, we in New Zealand have watched from afar while children were shot and killed and hundreds more
imprisoned by Israel, homes and property owned by families for centuries unjustly taken in Palestine, religious sites
invaded and desecrated , and for years upon years, the vast majority of the world has stood by as a 16-year blockade has
been imposed on Gaza heavily limiting the transport of food and other necessary goods and preventing the travel of most
of the population.
To put Gaza into perspective, it is only 365 km2 with slightly over 2 million people- basically one fourth the size of
Christchurch with five times the population. They have not just been starved of food, but starved of quality lives.
Most politicians and countries have said and done nothing to prevent these atrocities and clear violations of human
rights towards Palestinians for years, yet those same people and nations with power to influence have rushed to the
microphones and stood in front of cameras within the last day and a half calling out and condemning Palestinians.
We at the Islamic Women’s Council of New Zealand stand as mothers and sisters to call out this hypocrisy and
maltreatment, and we ask all New Zealanders to insist that our nation uphold its commitments to international human
rights and law for all and for everyone no matter in what land they reside and insist allied nations do as well.
We call for New Zealand leaders to become the diplomats and honest brokers of peace that the world so needs. Ongoing
failures to act against human rights violations are stains on the moral fabric of every nation and ultimately prevent
global efforts to peace and security as abusers will believe there are no consequences otherwise.
It is our prayer, in this time of heightened conflict, that the oppressed and the innocent bystanders be given
protection wherever they are, may their suffering ease, may their anguish be replaced with peace, and may their despair
become hope. We also pray that the hearts of those in power act justly and end the oppression in Palestine and across
the world.