Referring to existence of 12000 twelve-Imams Shi'as in New Zealand, a Member of Board of Directors of Ahl al-Bayt (PBUT) Islamic Foundation in New Zealand reported about the increasing inclinations to Shi'ite in this country.
Member of Board of Directors of Ahl al-Bayt Islamic Foundation in Auckland, New Zealand in a professional meeting on conditions of Muslims in New Zealand said among researchers of Islamic Research Foundation of Astan Quds Razavi, "New Zealand is a small country in the south of the Pacific Ocean with a population 4,500,000. Nearly, 40% of the population is Muslim."
Referring to the history of presence of Muslims in New Zealand and the city Auckland, Huma Abedi asserted, "Muslims came to New Zealand, initially from China in 1868 and appeared for the first time in 1874 by a census made in that year."
"The next flow of Muslims' arrival to this country occurred in 1910; since 1950 the Muslim population has grown considerably and Islamic mosques and associations have been established in different cities. The first association called NZAMA (New Zealand Muslim Association) was founded in 1951 in the largest city, Auckland", she continued.
"Today, most of large and small cities of New Zealand are embracing different associations and formations for worship and holding religious rituals; in 1386 H.Sh. a new formation called New Zealand Islamic Council consisting of 7 active Shi'ite groups in different cities of this country was registered and put into operation", Abedi added.
Referring to the increase of Shi'ite population in Auckland in previous years, she remarked, "Shi'as in Auckland have founded a variety of Shi'ite foundations including the charity center of Fatemeh Zahra (A.S.), Ahl al-Bayt (A.S.) Center, Al-Mustafa Arabic Foundation, Imam Ali (A.S.) Science Foundation, and Iman (faith) Center."
"Muslims have come to this country mainly from such countries as Fiji, India, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Afghanistan, Somali, Indonesia, and Malaysia, and over 60% of these Muslims live in Auckland, the largest city of New Zealand", educational manager of Ahl al-Bayt (A.S.) Islamic Foundation in Auckland, New Zealand said.
Noting that the Ahl al-Bayt (A.S.) Islamic Foundation in Aucklandwas registered officially in 1992 as a charity center supported by Ayatollah Golpayegani, she remarked, "Ahl al-Bayt (A.S.) Islamic Foundation in Auckland currently holds different religious rituals including congregational prayers, Qur'anic classes, training courses including assemblies for all Islamic events such as birthday and martyrdom anniversaries of the Infallible Imams (A.S.)."
"This center is the first Islamic foundation in Auckland that holds mourning ceremony on Muharram and Ramadan months, welcomed by a large number of people", she added.
"At present, this center is involved also in training and scientific activities concerning Islamic knowledge, holding numerous seminars and conference with presence of distinguished Muslim figures", she reminded.
"The majority of Ahl al-Bayt (A.S.) Islamic Foundation in Auckland is members from Iran, India, Pakistan, etc. and some 1000 people are connected to this foundation", she said.
source : www.abna.ir
