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N.Zealad, (insidesomalia.org)-Ethnic Affairs Minister of New Zealand Chris Carter has met with members of the Somali community, following the arrest of a woman over the alleged hijacking of a plane on Friday.
He says incidents of name-calling and racial abuse have already been directed at members of the Somali community in Christchurch.
Carter met about 35 local Somalis on Saturday evening, hoping to assure them New Zealanders won't judge their entire community on the alleged actions of one woman on a plane on Friday.
But it seems local thugs have been getting their word in first.
Carter says some of the Somalis complained of people hurling abuse in the street.
One woman reported she was shouted at by groups of youths in a car yelling out the word 'terrorist'.
Carter says community leaders have already clubbed together to send flowers to the pilots injured in Friday's incident.
33-year-old Asha ali Abdille appeared in court in Christchurch on Saturday and has been remanded to a psychiatric hospital.
It follows the mid-air stabbing of two pilots on a flight from Blenheim to Christchurch on Friday.
Blenheim Muslim Community Spokesman Zayad Blissett is welcoming the minister's efforts, as he also fears all Somalians will be judged.
He says that would be sad as the other Somalians he knows in Blenheim are well adjusted kiwi citizens.
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