Anjum Rahman is a spokesperson at Islamic Women’s Council of New Zealand. She is pictured here in an image from the book taken in 2009 by Ans Westra.
The book, The Crescent Moon: The Asian Face of Islam in New Zealand, was published in 2009. Commissioned by the Asia New Zealand Foundation, it features photographs by Ans Westra and personal stories from 37 individuals of Muslim faith. The text was written by Adrienne Jansen.
The book was designed to address misconceptions and stereotypes that had arisen about Islam, particularly since the September 11 attacks of 2001.
The Muslim New Zealanders profiled in the book and exhibition ranged from fourth-generation New Zealanders to new migrants from Asia – and are ethnically, culturally, theologically and professionally diverse. Lawyers, farmers, accountants, computer trainers and butchers all feature.
The interview subjects shared their thoughts about the media, about 9/11, about identity and faith – but mostly they just shared their own lives.
The book’s foreword was written by then Governor-General Anand Satyanand, who wrote: “Asia is home to more than half the world’s Muslims, and the majority of Muslims who have settled in New Zealand hail from one or other Asian country. In common with many Muslims the world over, Asian Muslims in New Zealand have had to contend with the suspicion that befell them following the tragic terrorist attacks in 2001.”
The book was also accompanied by a photograph exhibition that toured New Zealand. The exhibition then went on to have a life in Southeast Asia. It was shown in Indonesia in 2013 and Malaysia in 2014. In 2015, Jansen also travelled to George Town, Penang, in Malaysia to work with a local team on a companion exhibition about George Town’s Indian Muslim community. The photographs from that project were later shown alongside a selection from The Crescent Moon.
At the time of the 2013 Census, New Zealand had more than 46,000 people identifying as Muslim – most of whom hailed from Asia.
This book was created to open up dialogue and lead to greater understanding of Islam to the benefit of all. The Asia New Zealand Foundation considers this purpose to clearly still be as relevant today as it was a decade ago.
The Asia New Zealand Foundation is able to provide copies of the Crescent Moon book to organisations and schools on request. Please contact asianz@asianz.org.nz if you are interested.