The chairman of New Zealand's biggest mosque has been widely condemned after accusing Israel of being behind the Christchurch shooting which left 50 dead.
Ahmed Bhamji, who leads the Mt Roskill Masjid E Umar mosque in Auckland, made the remarks at a rally organised by Love New Zealand Hate Racism on Saturday.
During a speech, he said Israeli intelligence agency Mossad was behind the attack and accused suspect Brenton Tarrant of getting funding from 'Zionist business'.
In a video posted on Twitter, he can be heard saying: 'I stand here and I say I have a very, very strong suspicion that there's some group behind him and I am not afraid to say I feel Mossad is behind this.'
While the majority of the crowd is silent, one person can be heard yelling: 'It's the truth. Israel is behind this. That's right!'
The embassy of Israel in Wellington subsequently condemned his remarks, saying: 'All the Israeli people, along with the people of New Zealand, mourned the horrendous terror massacre against Muslim worshippers in Christchurch.
'The absurd accusation made by Bhamji is a regrettable expression of the basest anti-Semitic prejudice and we are confident that it is utterly rejected by the Muslim community leadership and by all New Zealanders.
'At this time we want to convey again the deepest sympathy of the Israeli embassy and the state of Israel to the victims and families of the Masjid Al Noor and Linwood mosque attacks.'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6859219/Chairman-New-Zealands-biggest-mosque-says-Mossad-Christchurch-massacre.html
Ahmed Bhamji, who leads the Mt Roskill Masjid E Umar mosque in Auckland, made the remarks at a rally organised by Love New Zealand Hate Racism on Saturday.
During a speech, he said Israeli intelligence agency Mossad was behind the attack and accused suspect Brenton Tarrant of getting funding from 'Zionist business'.
In a video posted on Twitter, he can be heard saying: 'I stand here and I say I have a very, very strong suspicion that there's some group behind him and I am not afraid to say I feel Mossad is behind this.'
While the majority of the crowd is silent, one person can be heard yelling: 'It's the truth. Israel is behind this. That's right!'
The embassy of Israel in Wellington subsequently condemned his remarks, saying: 'All the Israeli people, along with the people of New Zealand, mourned the horrendous terror massacre against Muslim worshippers in Christchurch.
'The absurd accusation made by Bhamji is a regrettable expression of the basest anti-Semitic prejudice and we are confident that it is utterly rejected by the Muslim community leadership and by all New Zealanders.
'At this time we want to convey again the deepest sympathy of the Israeli embassy and the state of Israel to the victims and families of the Masjid Al Noor and Linwood mosque attacks.'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6859219/Chairman-New-Zealands-biggest-mosque-says-Mossad-Christchurch-massacre.html