A Member Loyal To The Islamic State In Iraq And The Levant (ISIL) Waves An ISIL Flag In Raqqa.
A member loyal to the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) waves an ISIL flag in Raqqa June 29, 2014. REUTERS/Stringer

New Zealand's Muslim community does not agree with idea of the government possibly sending troops to Iraq. According to Radio New Zealand, Muslims in the country said the move to send troops would be a mistake. Prime Minister John Key has previously declared he was still seeking advice from other officials regarding the issue of a possible military support for the U.S.-led airstrikes against ISIS in Iraq and Syria.

International Muslim Association of New Zealand Secretary Tahir Nawaz said after his evening prayers in the Kilbirnie mosque in Wellington that providing military support would be a "bad idea."

Tony Green, the secretary of the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand, believes it was the invasion of Iraq by the U.S. that had created the conditions that gave ISIS the chance to strike and spread terror. He said further intervention by countries in the West may only make things "worse" and radicalise more Muslims.

Another Muslim in Christchurch who asked not to be named told the paper that sending troops to Iraq would work in the favour of ISIS. He recalled what happened to the U.S. after its intervention in Iraq.

Mohammad Farouk Khan, president of the South Auckland Muslim Association, is also against New Zealand getting involved in the Middle East. He thinks the U.S. does not make a difference in bombing ISIS since innocent people are still getting killed.

For Green, he believes ISIS-related terror would be unlikely to arise in New Zealand. However, there are also guarantees that it would not happen in the country.

Authorities in Australia have launched anti-terror raids that led to the arrest of suspected terrorists, including one man in Melbourne charged with funding a U.S. citizen fighting with ISIS in the Middle East. Reports of targeted racism on Muslims and offensive graffiti on mosques in Australia have been reported.

Meanwhile, New Zealand First Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters has called for Parliament to vote on the matter of a possible military support. He said he was "gravely concerned" that Mr Key appears to be leaning towards getting involved in the fight.