"They are interrogating New Zealanders whose only 'crime' is to have a Muslim sounding name - or maybe to have visited an Islamic country," Locke said.

CAIRO, November 24, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – Muslims in New Zealand are being harassed at borders for no apparent reason other than being Muslims, said a New Zealander lawmaker, calling on the government to interfere to stop the anti-Muslim harassment.

"Immigration officials are acting like political police," said Keith Locke, Green Party Immigration spokesperson, reported the Scoop newspaper Thursday, November 24.

"They are interrogating New Zealanders whose only 'crime' is to have a Muslim sounding name - or maybe to have visited an Islamic country."

Many New Zealander Muslims have complained of being detained by the immigration services for several hours, without explanation, for claims of "terror fears".

Javed Khan, President of the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand, said he has received numerous complaints from tearful people, many of whom are long-time New Zealanders, who were interrogated for no valid reason.

Locke urged the immigration service to stop harassing New Zealander Muslims at borders.

"Immigration profiling is now bordering on racism, and needs to be stopped."

"They are spending so much time detaining upstanding Muslim New Zealanders that they probably wouldn't notice if a real terrorist slipped through."

He added the Muslim border harassment has got even worse in the last few months.

"The targeting of Muslims has become worse since (MP) Winston Peters started attacking Iraqis in the House and an Immigration Profiling Group was set up last May.

"We don't want to get like George Bush's America, where Homeland Security treats Muslims as second-class citizens," Locke said.

Locke and Khan urged the government to interfere to investigate the immigration services' targeting of the New Zealander Muslims.

"I am asking the Government for its statistics on the nationality and religion of those held for questioning at our airports," Locke said.

The Immigration Service, on its part, has said it makes no apologies for the racist move.

The Department of Labour said immigration officers will detain anyone who they believe requires further checks.

There are nearly 17,000 Muslims in New Zealand, comprising less than one percent of the total population.

Governmental census figures show that the Muslim population has doubled every five years for the past 25 years.

New Zealand also has a large export oriented dairy and Halal meat industry whose products are found in all gulf countries and other Middle Eastern countries.