Muslim group wants $2 million donation to be returned to China

Story republished on Stuff following Newsroom

A massive donation for Christchurch shooting victims, raised by international associates of controversial businessman Zhang Yikun, should be returned, an Islamic group says. 

Yikun, who was embroiled in the Jami Lee-Ross donations scandal, pledged $2.1 million at a function of Teochew delegates in Auckland.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff accepted an initial $500,000 cheque from the delegates at the event, and was asked to pass the money onto the Muslim community in Christchurch. The amount later grew as delegates from other countries gifted money.

The Khadija Leadership Network is calling for the donation to be returned, and instead be channelled into helping the persecuted Uighur people in China.