by PETER GRACE
Cutting off funds is probably an important way of hampering ISIS and its mission of terror, speakers at an interfaith meeting in Auckland suggested on February 7.
The theme for the gathering at the Auckland office of the United Peace Foundation (UPF) in Parnell was, “What should be our response to ISIS”?
The meeting began with prayer by representatives of four beliefs: Anglican, Hindu, Islam and UPF.
The two main speakers were Anglican priest the Rev. Jenny Chalmers of Wellington, and mathematics lecturer Shariq Ur Rehman of Auckland, representing Islam. They both referred to
the importance of cutting off the flow of funds and weapons to ISIS.
Rev. Chalmers reminded her audience that Jesus lived under an occupying force. “And, let’s not forget, he was killed.”
Her main points for responding to ISIS, she said, were:
• To take the the log out of your eye before trying to help take the speck out of someone else’s. For example, consider where ISIS gets its weapons from.
• We might not like to think about why ISIS exists, but we should ask the question. “If you were in their shoes, what would you do?”
• Turn the other cheek. Give them the coat off your back. “Every strategy Jesus spoke of was to show that the one who is abused was to take the power off the abuser by turning the other cheek.”
• Love our enemies, and give without expecting anything in return. That response might not work at once, Rev. Chalmers said, but we had to ask about the next generation and what we are going to do about that. “Who are the kids playing in the streets of Damascus, and what are the hopes for them? What about the leaders coming out of there?” Are we taking economic and educational reform seriously in countries like Iran, Iraq, Syria and so on?
Shariq Ur Rehman acknowledged that some people have doubts about the teachings of Islam. “It is very important that there are no misunderstandings among the faith groups,” he said, “then harmony can be passed down to other faith groups and we can have a harmonised society.”
ISIS is getting money that allows it to continue its activities, Ur Rehman said. And they are continuing to acquire weapons. “It’s quite obvious they are receiving the help and support of
certain powers,” he said.
The money also helps recruitment. Those joining are youth. “It’s said that if a family sends one member to join ISIS, that family is given thousands of dollars. And then hundreds
of dollars a month. So something has to be done to stop this,” he said.
After a panel discussion, organisers canvassed people there for their support for sending a letter to the New Zealand Government expressing concern about any possible military action against ISIS.
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