Muslim leaders have reported a spike in racial abuse aimed mostly at women and children, many walking to and from school.

In his address on Wednesday the Prime Minister of New Zealand, John Key, stressed that of those few individuals on a security watch list none are representative of New Zealand’s Muslim community as a whole.

Prime Minister Key also stressed that as well as making a valuable contribution to our nation, Muslim New Zealanders are as distressed by the actions of terrorists and their violent messages as anyone else.

The Human Rights Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy has urged New Zealanders to stand alongside Muslim Kiwis in peace and compassion.

“The Human Rights Commission is concerned for the wellbeing of vulnerable Muslim Kiwis, some of whom are being wrongly targeted and blamed for things they are not responsible for and have vehemently opposed,” she said.

“Those people terrifying other New Zealanders are bringing the hatred we loathe into our streets and suburbs.”

“It is shameful New Zealand women and children do not feel safe walking to and from school.”

“Muslim New Zealanders have publicly and unreservedly rejected violent extremism. On behalf of Kiwi Muslims, the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand publicly and unreservedly rejected ISIS and called for justice, dignity and safety,” said Dame Susan.

“If New Zealanders want peace overseas – we need to start right here at home, human rights begin at home. We mourn the tragic loss of lives in overseas conflicts but we must honour their lives by standing for peace and human rights at all costs.”

“When we bring the violence and the hatred we see on our television screens into our communities, when we scream hateful abuse at a woman in a veil and her children: we are the ones creating the terror.”

Read Prime Ministers Speech TO NZ INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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