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Mrn arrest of two south Africans in uganda

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26 August 2008

The Secretary General
Mr. Gwede Mantashe
African National Congress
Luthuli House
Johannesburg.

Sir

The Media Review Network is concerned at the arrest and incarceration of two South Africans, Mufti Hussein Bhayat, a cleric from Lenasia and Mr. Haroon Saley from Azaadville. Both gentlemen represent a charitable organisation, The Crescent of Hope, and have been involved in relief work on the Continent and at home for many years.

On Sunday 17th August 2008, they were returning to South Africa after completing their relief work in Kenya. They were travelling via Kampala, Uganda, and at the stop over at Entebbe Airport they were arrested for alleged terrorist activities, by the Ugandan Authorities. Two Ugandan citizens who came to meet the South Africans were also arrested.

After numerous attempts by the family lawyer for information about the two men from the Department of Foreign Affairs, diplomatic access was eventually secured from the Ugandan Authorities. This took a week to process.

Notwithstanding the fact that we do have a High Commissioner based in Kampala, The Media Review Network is troubled and anxious to note that it took such a prolonged period before the Department of Foreign Affairs could provide positive information about South African Citizens in a foreign country. Unfortunately this has led to a perceived lack of interest as well as negative speculation vis-à-vis the Department of Foreign Affairs. As a desperate measure the family had to obtain the services of legal council in Kampala to assist them 

Sir, the Media Review Network would like your Office to kindly intervene on our behalf with the Department to determine exactly why these gentlemen have been arrested and incarcerated. We do believe that if evidence is available as to their alleged terrorist activities then they should be charged accordingly. If not then the Department, through its High Commissioner, should assist in securing their immediate release so that they are able to return to their home and their loved ones.

The anger and frustration of the Muslim community at this stereotyping and religious profiling is quite understandable. The Muslim Community would be deeply grateful to the African National Congress if you could add your voice to their call for the unconditional release of the two men. The aggravation and annoyance of such arbitrary arrests and harassment only impedes the progress of the humanitarian efforts carried out by these men and their organisation. Your public support for the efforts of these organisations to alleviate poverty and hunger on our Continent will also be highly appreciated.

Thank you,
Iqbal Jassat
Chairman
Media Review Network

 

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South Africa envoy visits terror suspects

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Publication date: Monday, 25th August, 2008

By Henry Mukasa

THE South African High Commissioner to Uganda, Chiliza Thanduyise, yesterday visited the two South Africans who were arrested in connection with terrorism.

“We have been given access. They are fine,” Chiliza told The New Vision yesterday.

He added that the commission had not yet been officially given the reason why Islamic clerics, Mufti Hussain Bhayat, 57 and Haroon Saley, 50, were arrested.
Bhayat and Saley were arrested by the Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force at Entebbe International Airport last Monday.

The families of the suspects and Muslim clerics last week claimed they were being subjected to Islamaphobia and terror profiling (unfounded hatred for Muslims).

The Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) and the Media Review Network (MRA) in South Africa said they were outraged “that Muslims of undeniable integrity” had been arrested.

“This feeds into the orchestrated frenzy of Islamaphobia that can only be detrimental to the harmonious relationship currently enjoyed by our people on the continent,” the organisations stated.

However, the UPDF spokesperson, Maj. Paddy Ankunda, dismissed the 42allegations as the concerned organisations.

“They are just trying to borrow from xenophobia,” Ankunda responded.
“Why them? There must be a reason why we arrested them. If they are innocent, they will be released.”

Ankunda added that the South Africa High Commissioner had written to the Ugandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs demanding an explanation on why their nationals had been arrested.

He pointed out that the army had no problem with the suspects getting consular services, adding that the investigations were going on.

“We are making progress in our investigations and we have got useful leads,” Ankunda stated yesterday.

This article can be found on-line at: newvision.co.ug
© Copyright 2000-2008 The New Vision. All rights reserved.

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Families of terror suspects protest

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Publication date: Sunday, 24th August, 2008

By Vision Reporter and Agencies

MUSLIM clerics and families of the arrested South African terror suspects have claimed that they are being subjected to Islamaphobia and terror profiling.

The Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) in South Africa told local newspapers that it believed Islamic cleric Mufti Hussain Bhayat and Haroon Saley detained in Kampala on terrorism allegations are being subjected to Islamaphobic profiling.

The MJC and the Media Review Network (MRN) want South Africa Intelligence Minister, Ronnie Kasrils, to intervene in the case of the men being handled by the Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force. The MRN, by the weekend, was also preparing to send its chairperson, Iqbal Jassat, to accompany Zahid Asmal of Channel Islam International to Uganda to assess the case.

The MRN and MJC said they were 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 42that can only be detrimental to the harmonious relationship currently enjoyed by our people on the continent,” the organisations commented.

The two were arrested at Entebbe International Airport on Monday with two other Ugandans Muslims who had gone to the airport to receive them. Security declined to reveal the identity of the locals.Radio Islam in South Africa reports that Bhayat lives in Lenasia, and Saley is a resident of Azaadville.

Army spokesperson Maj. Paddy Ankunda said the two were suspected of being involved in terrorism activities and that they had not been tortured.
“We are stilling holding them. We have got useful leads and still compiling more information.”

Yousha Tayob, who spoke on behalf of the suspects’ families said they had received acknowledgement from Uganda that Bhayat and Saley are in custody, but didn’t know why. “We are trying to establish consular access and that will tell us everything we need to know,” Tayob said. “We have been given no official reason,” he said over the weekend.

This article can be found on-line at: http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/646182
© Copyright 2000-2008 The New Vision. All rights reserved.

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Families to request release of sa men in uganda

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August 25, 2008, 18:30
  
 
The families of the two South African Islamic relief workers being held in Uganda are going to ask the courts to release them.

Over a week ago, Hussain Bhayat and Haroon Saley were detained at Entebbe Airport on suspicion of terrorism. Their lawyer, Yousha Tayob, has been exploring every legal avenue to secure the men’s release.

The men are being detained at the Joint Security offices in Kampala. They have not been charged nor have they appeared in court within the statutory 48-hours.

The two men reportedly went overseas to do relief work for the Islamic Non-Government Organisation (NGO ) -Crescent of Hope. Their colleagues are stunned by the arrests.

They were expected to appear in court earlier today on apparent terror related charges, but have not. They remain in custody while the South African government prepares to intervene.
 
Article courtesy of the South African Broadcasting Corporation.
Copyright © 2000 – 2007 SABC. See ‘Disclaimer’ 

 

 

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