22 August 2008

Press Release

Detention of Two SA Muslims in Uganda on charges of “Terrorism”

The MEDIA REVIEW NETWORK (MRN) and MUSLIM JUDICIAL COUNCIL (MJC) express their deep concern at the arrest and detention of two Muslim South Africans in Uganda on the spurious charges of "terrorism".
 
The Islamic cleric Mufti Bhayat and Haroon Saley, from the Crescent of Hope organisation, are well known in the community for their selfless devotion in serving the poor and the destitute, for several decades.
 
The MRN and MJC are outraged that Muslims of undeniable integrity and a track-record of poverty alleviation have been profiled as "terrorists". This feeds into the orchestrated frenzy of Islamophobia that can only be detrimental to the harmonious relationship currently enjoyed by our people on the continent.
 
The MRN is preparing to send our Chairperson, Iqbal Jassat, to accompany Zahid Asmal of Channel Islam International, to Uganda, to make an assessment of the case.

The MRN and MJC have urged the Minister of Intelligence, Ronnie Kasrils, to intervene immediately and seek the release of our citizens back to our shores.
 
Issued by:
Dr Firoz Osman
Secretary-General
Media Review Network
082 337 6976

(Media Review Network is an advocacy group based in Tshwane (Pretoria), South Africa)