As noted in my previous letter, Auckland, New Zealand is home to a myriad of religions, cultures, and languages evident in the food around the city.
For those who have read my first letter, I did eventually find a Mexican restaurant in Auckland; sadly, it was an experience as watery as any kayaking trip on the Potomac River I had ever taken. But while I have spent my semester searching for a decent Mexican restaurant in Auckland, I became enveloped in a very strong, present, and vibrant Muslim community, giving me a profound insight into how some Muslims view religion in New Zealand, and in the greater world. Based off my interactions with this small community in New Zealand, it can be said without equivocation that for Muslims in the country, religion is politics and politics is religion.
For a short background, Islam came to New Zealand near the end of the 19th century, to my surprise, from East Asian immigrants sent to the country to work on gold mines. Following political unrest in Fiji in the late 1970s, immigration laws allowed for many Fijian Indians to come to New Zealand increasing the number of Muslims residing in the country. In the 1990s, New Zealand also allowed refugees from Somalia, Iraq, and Afghanistan to immigrate to the country, furthering Islam's integration into New Zealand society. Today, Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in New Zealand as a consequence of the immigration patterns from locations mentioned above.
My first introduction to Islam in New Zealand occurred during a trip to a barbershop in what was supposed to be a quick haircut on my way to class. During a two hour conversation with the barber, who was an Iranian expatriate, we discussed Iranian nuclear proliferation, President Barack Obama, and religion, mostly with great zeal and emotion on his part. According to this barber, the "Statement on Religious Diversity" as discussed in my previous letter was nothing but a ploy from New Zealand politicians to court Muslims to vote for their respective political parties. Having asked him whether that was characteristic of only New Zealand, he went on to note that Islam was always prone to manipulation by local populations, terrorist groups, and even leaders both in the Middle East and New Zealand. For him, the "Statement on Religious Diversity" was not an acceptance of the Muslim faith in the country, but an acknowledgement of fear by the New Zealand government associated with the growing Muslim population in the country today.
A similar conversation also transpired when I visited a Turkish restaurant in early April. When engaging in a light-hearted conversation about the owner's home in Turkey and his new life in New Zealand, the Turkish restaurant owner quickly echoed the same sentiments as the Iranian barber about religion both in his native Turkey and in New Zealand. For this Turkish man, Islam has always been manipulated in the political realm. He noted that Islam was a religion of peace, and that attempts by politicians in Turkey and New Zealand to portray Islam in words uncharacteristic of the religion was a travesty to his faith and identity. For him, the very mention of the word Islam has become a political issue among nations around the world susceptible to name calling, criticism, and misinterpretation. As I left the restaurant, he was quick to thank me and offer me a handshake, noting how appreciative he was for President Obama's kind words towards Muslims, and his decision to visit Turkey as his first stop to quell stereotypes about his religion.
As I wind down my time in New Zealand, it has been interesting to see how contentious religion is even in a remote part of the world. Religion, whether it is Islam, Christianity, or Judaism, cannot hide from those who wish to use its beliefs to their own advantages, particularly in the political arena. As I end my study abroad experience in New Zealand, the greatest lesson I may have learned in terms of religion, owing much from interacting with the Muslim community, is that words do matter, ideas and beliefs are and should be multiple, but whatever differences we may have, it is important to know that an honest debate is necessary for whatever progress we hope to achieve.
For a short background, Islam came to New Zealand near the end of the 19th century, to my surprise, from East Asian immigrants sent to the country to work on gold mines. Following political unrest in Fiji in the late 1970s, immigration laws allowed for many Fijian Indians to come to New Zealand increasing the number of Muslims residing in the country. In the 1990s, New Zealand also allowed refugees from Somalia, Iraq, and Afghanistan to immigrate to the country, furthering Islam's integration into New Zealand society. Today, Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in New Zealand as a consequence of the immigration patterns from locations mentioned above.
My first introduction to Islam in New Zealand occurred during a trip to a barbershop in what was supposed to be a quick haircut on my way to class. During a two hour conversation with the barber, who was an Iranian expatriate, we discussed Iranian nuclear proliferation, President Barack Obama, and religion, mostly with great zeal and emotion on his part. According to this barber, the "Statement on Religious Diversity" as discussed in my previous letter was nothing but a ploy from New Zealand politicians to court Muslims to vote for their respective political parties. Having asked him whether that was characteristic of only New Zealand, he went on to note that Islam was always prone to manipulation by local populations, terrorist groups, and even leaders both in the Middle East and New Zealand. For him, the "Statement on Religious Diversity" was not an acceptance of the Muslim faith in the country, but an acknowledgement of fear by the New Zealand government associated with the growing Muslim population in the country today.
A similar conversation also transpired when I visited a Turkish restaurant in early April. When engaging in a light-hearted conversation about the owner's home in Turkey and his new life in New Zealand, the Turkish restaurant owner quickly echoed the same sentiments as the Iranian barber about religion both in his native Turkey and in New Zealand. For this Turkish man, Islam has always been manipulated in the political realm. He noted that Islam was a religion of peace, and that attempts by politicians in Turkey and New Zealand to portray Islam in words uncharacteristic of the religion was a travesty to his faith and identity. For him, the very mention of the word Islam has become a political issue among nations around the world susceptible to name calling, criticism, and misinterpretation. As I left the restaurant, he was quick to thank me and offer me a handshake, noting how appreciative he was for President Obama's kind words towards Muslims, and his decision to visit Turkey as his first stop to quell stereotypes about his religion.
As I wind down my time in New Zealand, it has been interesting to see how contentious religion is even in a remote part of the world. Religion, whether it is Islam, Christianity, or Judaism, cannot hide from those who wish to use its beliefs to their own advantages, particularly in the political arena. As I end my study abroad experience in New Zealand, the greatest lesson I may have learned in terms of religion, owing much from interacting with the Muslim community, is that words do matter, ideas and beliefs are and should be multiple, but whatever differences we may have, it is important to know that an honest debate is necessary for whatever progress we hope to achieve.
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