Proposed Muslim prayer on Anzac Day sparks violent threats

A Wellington Returned and Service Association (RSA) veteran says he received violent threats after proposing an Islamic prayer be performed at an Anzac Day service.

Titahi Bay RSA announced on its Facebook page last Wednesday the Anzac Day dawn service would conclude with a prayer from the Koran on the beach

But many members responded in anger to the post.

"I feel that only the Christian prayer is appropriate for the dawn service," one person commented on a now deleted Facebook post about the service.

Simon Strombom, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan tasked with organising the Anzac Day service, told The AM Show people have been far less polite when they contacted him directly.

"One guy's rung that threatened to kick my head in this morning and all sorts, [said] I should have had my head kicked in at birth and all this.

"They're making it quite personal."

National RSA president BJ Clark said any distractions to the normal service can cause tension and people are welcome to their own opinions about whether it is appropriate

"If we look at in the past, we haven't had a Muslim prayer and I suppose that's where the issue has arisen, where there has been some discussion points," he told The AM Show.

"Is this about the Anzac service, or are we confusing what the service is about?"

But he will not dictate to local RSAs on what to do with their services.

"As we are free to do in New Zealand, there should be choice by the local RSAs on whether they include that or not," he said.

Strombom said he was shocked and saddened by the reaction to the prayer, but would not be dissuaded from including it

It has been moved out of the dawn service though, and will instead be said at the conclusion of the 10am service.

Around 2500 people are expected to attend the later service.

Newshub. 04/04/2019

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Comment by cheeki kea on April 14, 2019 at 7:55am: "She is on a massive Guilt trip at present , having signed an order in council last December to change the Gun Laws to allow on line registration without Face to face police interview, that enabled the guy to purchase the Guns without being seen so Hence the desperate urgency to change the Law back to cover the massive loop hole her order in Council (which meant it didn't go through Parliament ) had created and to me that shows she knows she has contributed to the action and should resign and also to have this happen just when she wants to roll out her Wellbeing ideology she is very annoyed as it has dropped a massive hole in her whole doctrine as people are feeling far from well and never felt so insecure with all the police with Guns and cancelled Anzac services a Massive storm is coming and she knows the gloss is about to come off."

The above comment is from resident Bryan, more thoughts on why all the call to payer and cancelled Anzac events. (It is known that the bumbling kiwi jihadi has mentioned attacks on Anzac services in his past rants) Looks like the pm has gone into twisted damage control mode. Now we see police carry guns thanks to her and everyones cheesed off about it.

Comment by cheeki kea on April 10, 2019 at 7:43am: And the Beast is the Govt. I have not heard of any untoward comment or ill intent directed at the muslim community yet. They seldom make public statements, but when they have done so, they have called out bogus politician Goiriz Ghahraman, called out the zionists, and offered forgiveness to the idiot who smashed up their mosque a few years back. We can only go by what they have done, thats why they are being used and abused as pawns by the UN and Evil Govt.

Comment by Chris of the family Masters on April 10, 2019 at 6:55am: Muslims are nothing more than pawns used by UN inc. to bring down white society. It's all in open, they don't assimilate,( admit to it readily ) are not of the 'religion of peace' and we all can see it but the sold out corporate stooges i.e politicians.

One thing to do is lawful rebellion. Starve the beast.

Comment by cheeki kea on April 10, 2019 at 5:45am: Well to date we see threats of kicks in the face, an actual punch in the face, death threats to the pm on social media and a problem with guns, but it's early days yet. Might be why so many Anzac events have been shut down and cancelled. Wonder what they will do at Easter, as people still try to get their heads around the 'Crusaders' rugby fall out. watch this space.