The Wellington Abrahamic Council of Jews, Christians and Muslims has released a statement in the context of war in Israel and Gaza, calling for people in Aotearoa New Zealand to avoid hateful or threatening behaviour toward any person or faith community.

The Council has invited more faith groups and organisations to sign onto the letter via their website contact form.

The statement follows in full below.

A Statement with an Invitation from the Wellington Abrahamic Council of Jews, Christians, and Muslims
 

This is a moment of deep pain in the world. Since the events of 7 October in Israel and Gaza, we have seen exploitation of the crisis to spread hate, disinformation and extremism overseas and here in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Let us be unequivocally clear:
"We, the undersigned, reject all forms of hate and bigotry, including racism, Islamophobia, anti-Arab hate, and antisemitism. We are reminded that all of our communities’ safety and futures are inextricably linked – and we recommit ourselves to fighting racism, bigotry, and hate in all its forms.

The Torah commands us to “love your neighbour as yourself”.
The New Testament enjoins us to “love one another”.
The Quran teaches us that The Almighty has created different “peoples and tribes that we may know one another”.

We stand together with all of our neighbours under threat and urge our elected and community leaders, police, schools, universities, public institutions, employers and workplaces to make clear that there will be zero tolerance for any act of hate.

L’shalom, Salaam, Kia tau te Rangimārie – towards peace and justice in our world."

Signed

Anglican Association of Women, Wellington Diocese
Auckland Hebrew Congregation
Beth Shalom: The Progressive Jewish Community of Auckland
Dunedin Abrahamic Group
Dunedin Jewish Congregation
EarthDiverse
Ecology Justice and Peace Commission, [Catholic] Archdiocese of Wellington
Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand
Humanity Matters
Holocaust Centre of New Zealand
Jewish Professionals of Wellington
Justice, Peace, and Development Group, Otari Catholic Parish
New Zealand Jewish Council
Religious Diversity Centre Aotearoa New Zealand
Sh’ma Koleinu – Alternative Jewish Voices (NZ)
Tāhono Inclusive Aotearoa
The Starfish Collective
Wellington Progressive Jewish Congregation / Temple Sinai