Muslim local election candidates want ‘harmony in our society’ Two Muslims are standing in Christchurch's local government elections for the first time.

(Radio NZ) Zahra Hussaini and Gamal Fouda are the first Muslim candidates to be standing for the region’s council and community boards.

They spoke to RNZ at Labour’s People’s Choice launch in Christchurch yesterday. They were supported by members of the Muslim community.

Riccarton community board candidate Gamal Fouda had decided to run following the 15 March mosque attacks.

Mr Fouda came to New Zealand in 2003 from Egypt. He is a trained primary school teacher and now works as an imam (minister) at Christchurch’s Al Noor Mosque. He had just begun delivering his sermon when the shooting started at his mosque where 42 people died.

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