Two SA workers detained  

25 August 2008

INTERVENE: Ronnie Kasrils. 
 
Muslim body wants Kasrils to intervene

There was still no word on Saturday why two South African Islamic relief workers had been detained in Uganda, a spokesman for their families said.

Yousha Tayob said they had been informed by the Ugandan authorities that Mufti Hussain Bhayat and Haroon Saley were being detained, but they did not know why.

“We are trying to establish consular access and that will tell us everything we need to know,” the spokesman said. “We have been given no official reason.”

The two were reportedly detained early on Monday morning during a stopover at Entebbe International Airport, in Kampala, Uganda.

Uganda’s New Vision online newspaper said they were taken for questioning by a joint anti-terrorism task force.

The Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) believes they are being subjected to Islamaphobic profiling and the MJC and Media Review Network want Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils to intervene.

The two work for Crescent of Hope, an Islamic organisation that does charitable and relief work.

They had made the stopover in Uganda on their way home to South Africa from Kenya. – Sapa

(Sowetan)