Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy has described an attack on Jewish graves in Dunedin as “gutless, shameful and ignorant” and urged anyone with information on the offenders to contact Police.
Constable Greg Marsden said two headstones had been hit with so much force that they ”have broken in half”.
The third headstone had a swastika painted on it.
Devoy is absolutely right in saying that it is up to all New Zealanders to act against hatemongers, said Wellington Interfaith Council president Wendy Matthews.
“Our interfaith council, and others around the country, are working constantly to build understanding and co-operation between New Zealand’s faith groups, so that violence arising from religious differences, unfortunately now so widespread overseas, will not develop here,” she added.
Every year the Human Rights Commission responds to thousands of enquiries and complaints and approximately a third of them are to do with racial discrimination.
This year marked the tenth year of the Commission’s Diversity Programme – launched in the wake of attacks on Jewish graves in 2004.
Preaching without Prejudice a resource from the Diocese of Broken Bay.
Source
- Supplied: Wellington Interfaith Council
- The Times of Israel
- Image: Radio New Zealand
