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AUCKLAND NZ (ANS) -- The New Zealand Government is preparing to celebrate, as a State occasion next month, an important Muslim festival, for the third year in a row.
While there is no State celebration of any Christian festival, such as Easter or Christmas, the Ministry of Ethnic Affairs is hosting the festival Eid'ul Fitr, a celebration of the end of the month of Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar.
Parliament also celebrates the Hindu Diwali and the Chinese New Year festivals.
Over 50 per cent of the population of New Zealand claimed some affiliation to Christianity in the most recent census, while other religious groups make up only ?? of the population.
Independent MP Gordon Copeland said the Muslim festival was the only truly religious festival celebrated by the State.
"You can't separate politicians from politics," he said. "It is about gathering votes. But the State, which is secular, should not be paying for this religious festival in Parliament. It breaches the separation of Church and State principle."
National MP Judith Collins said the Government was displaying a double standard.
"The Government promotes itself as secular when it wants to and has cut out grace at state dinners. That applied even when the Queen, who is head of the Anglican Church, was here.
"I don't have a problem with celebrations of festivals [of other religions] but we should then be able to say grace when the Queen is here. That's petty."
For the past two years, an official celebration of the festival has been held at Parliament House, attended by the Prime Minister, high commissioner for Pakistan, other diplomats, Muslim community leaders, and various MPs. This year it will be held on October 23, hosted by Muslim MP Ashraf Choudray.
Meanwhile, thousands of Christians throughout New Zealand have answered the call to pray for Muslims in our country and beyond, during the month of Ramadan.
Over 3000 Christians have contacted the Muslim Awareness Resource Network (MARN) to receive their booklet 30 Days of Prayer, setting out an international plan of prayer covering Islam's holy month from September 13, during which all Muslims fast and pray.
The director of MARN said Muslims were very open to spiritual things during Ramadan, as they expected to receive some sort of revelation during the month.
"Many Muslims have had revelations of Jesus during Ramadan," the director said. "It's very common, even in New Zealand, for them to have dreams, especially the Iranians who come here."
A special emphasis is being placed on praying for Muslims on Laylat ul-Qadr, the 27th night of Ramadan, October 7, the most significant night of the Islamic year. Muslims call this night the Night of Power and believe angels are sent out during this night to perform special acts. The night is believed to be the same night that their prophet Mohammed received the revelation of their holy book, the Qur'an.
Lynley Smith is a reporter in the Auckland newsroom of Challenge Weekly, New Zealand's independent and non-denominational Christian newspaper.
Used by Permission of ASSIST News Service www.assistnews.net
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