Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 2013-08-08

A disabled Muslim man was viciously murdered on the eve of Eid ul-Fitr inside the Pier Street Masjid in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape.

According to a source who spoke to Radio Islam, 44 year old Mohammed Laher from Malabar who suffers from multiple sclerosis was sitting for Itik’af (sitting in seclusion in the masjid during the last ten days of the month of Ramadaan).

Laher was alone and reading the Quraan in masjid Abraar when he was beaten with an electrical extension cord and stabbed in the ear with a pencil shortly after midday.  

The source told Radio Islam that the Marhoom (deceased) was Looking after the Mu'azzin's (one who calls to prayer) child when a 19 year old man who was possibly of  Nigerian descent strangled and stabbed Laher.

In a bizarre twist the Nigerian national who is also a regular worshipper at the masjid, returned to pray just six hours after the savage attack and was promptly arrested.

Islamic scholar Moulana Nazeer Desai told the PE Herald a murder inside a masjid, especially during the Ramadaan period, was unheard of in Port Elizabeth.

“The manner in which this attack was carried out is just totally savage. Everyone is talking about it and wants answers,” said Moulana Desai.

Moulana Desai said the Laher family and Muslim community were shocked by the murder. “Everyone is disappointed. We took this individual in with open arms as a newcomer to the country and this is how we get repaid,” he said.

A senior police officer linked to the investigation said Laher was found lying on his side. “It looks like he was beaten with an extension cord and then stabbed in the ear.”

The officer said the incident happened shortly after a woman left the masjid, she went back inside after hearing a commotion, where she found Laher lying dead on the floor. “There are signs of a struggle, but he could not walk and could not put up much of a fight. The man fled out the back door after the attack,” the officer said.

Police spokesperson, Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg, said,” The case is very sensitive as the suspect is known to the community. There are many questions that still need to be addressed. We do not know the motive for the attack at this stage.”

The suspect is due to appear in the Port Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Monday on a charge of murder.