The United Nations has noticed NZ First MP Richard Prosser’s “Wogistan” rant about Muslims.
Reports about his magazine article calling for young Muslims to be banned from Western airlines went around the world and now the UN’s Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has had its say.
“The committee regrets the recent inflammatory remarks by a Member of Parliament vilifying persons from Central Asia or the Middle East based on their skin colour and country of origin as well as their religion,” it says in the New Zealand section of its latest report.
“It welcomes the strong criticism of such statements by the Minister of Justice and Ethnic Affairs and the Race Relations Commissioner, among others.”
Mr Prosser wrote in his column for Investigate magazine that most terrorists were Muslims. “Misogynist troglodytes from Wogistan are threatening our way of life and security of travel in the name of their stone-age religion,” he wrote.
Mr Prosser was reprimanded by NZ First leader Winston Peters and apologised for his remarks. Justice Minister Judith Collins, Prime Minister John Key and MPs from all the parties in parliament condemned him for making them.
Mr Prosser says he wrote the column because he was annoyed when his penknife was confiscated at Christchurch Airport.