Peters takes flak for ‘clean house’ talk in wake of attacks

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has been condemned for “naked political opportunism” after he called for Muslim communities to “clean house” and turn in terrorists in the wake of the London attacks.

Peters made his comments in support of a Government motion to condemn the terror attack in London, and offer condolences and support to victims and the people of the United Kingdom.

They were immediately con- demned by Act leader David Seymour, while United Future leader Peter Dunne warned against “the forces of bigotry and intolerance who will milk these events for every opportunity that they can”.

Peters told Parliament there was a tendency to minimise terror attacks as the act of self-radicalised, lone wolves. “That needs to be completely re-thought in the West . . . we must ask, ‘how could people plan such terrible deeds but leave their friends, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and spouses completely in the dark?’ In- evitably we will be told that the wider community knew nothing, and neither did friends or family,” Peters said.

“What is happening is that family, friends and confidants are choosing to turn the other cheek, are choosing silence, rather than to turn these monsters in. That may be the culture of Damascus, but it is not ours. It may be acceptable in Tripoli, but it most certainly is not acceptable in New Zealand.”

Peters said the “Islamic community” needed to “clean house” by “turn- ing these monsters in”. Speaking after Peters, Act leader David Seymour said such attacks were “getting increasingly close to New Zealand, both culturally and geographically”.

“There is going to have to be a wider and more serious debate about when and whether such an event can happen here.

“It will have to be a debate without naked political opportunism as we have heard from New Zealand First, but also without the naivety that these events are completely random, that they are not systematic, and they cannot be detected and prevented.”

Dunne said he extended his condolences to everyone affected by the attacks, and said the country needed to be on guard and that “we do not surrender”.

Dr Zain Ali, head of the Islamic Studies Research Unit at the University of Auckland, said Peters’ comments were designed to generate headlines in an election year. “He has made the local Muslim community the whipping boy for his campaign.”