A Muslim chaplaincy service begins today at the University of Otago, New Zealand.
This is something that has been in the planning for some time, but coincidentally arrives at a critical time for Muslim staff and students with the recent tragic events in Christchurch, Otago Daily Times reported.
“It’s taken some time to work between the various parties involved, but we are delighted to expand the chaplaincy service from two to three partners, expanding it from interdenominational and Catholic Christian to include Muslim chaplaincy,” University chaplain the Rev Greg Hughson said.
“In working towards establishing a Muslim chaplaincy here at Otago over many years, we were not to know how necessary and important this would be, given the terrorist attacks on 15 March.”
Terrorist Brenton Harrison Tarrant killed 50 Muslim worshippers in March 15 attacks as he targeted Al Noor and Linwood mosques.
Serving Muslim students at the university, the new chaplaincy service launched with two part-time chaplains who voluntarily provide pastoral care and spiritual support to Muslim students.
The two chaplains are retired political lecturer Dr Najib Lafraie, a former Afghanistan foreign minister who fled the Taliban, and Salmah Kassim, a former diplomatic officer at the Malaysian High Commission in Wellington.
Kassim said she was pleased to take up the new appointment and believed her own background had equipped her with the skills to assist students.
“With my own experience of being in a foreign land for more than 20 years – leaving behind my daughter, husband and family while completing my bachelor degree – it gives me the privilege to understand students’ experiences here in New Zealand,” she said.
Dr. Lafraie said he was excited to be appointed one of the university’s first Muslim chaplains.
“At Otago we have hundreds of Muslims who both work and study away from their families, their communities and their support systems. The chaplaincy has been established for this exact reason; it is to provide a support system for any Muslim in need,” he said.
“It is to be there for any Muslim facing any problem, big or small.”
Vice-president of the Muslim University Students Association Naser Tamimi said the establishment of the Muslim chaplaincy service is very positive for Muslim students.
“Having a Muslim leader at the University is a really good thing, especially for new students and post-graduate students who may not have as many contacts in the Muslim community,” he said.
“This will really benefit the Muslims at Otago in future years.”
In New Zealand, Islam is a minority religious affiliation, as small numbers of Muslim immigrants from South Asia and eastern Europe settled starting from the early 1900s until the 1960s.