Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News, 2013-12-11

NOT GUILTY! That was the judgment handed down by the Johannesburg Magistrates court seven to Shireen Banoo Sheik and her daughter Naazneen Kader this afternoon at 2pm.

Kader was charged with assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, resisting arrest and interfering with police business while Sheik was charged with interfering with police executing their official’s duties.

Yousha Tayob from the Muslim Lawyers Association (MLA) who represented the mother and daughter told Radio Islam the trial ran for four days.

Tayob said the magistrate made certain adverse findings against the accused, but by and large there was doubt in the states version and in an unimpressive way, her words were that the state did not present its case impressively. “Then she accordingly found them not guilty on all charges.

“We will now pursue another criminal charge against the police and civil claim against the minister of police,” said Tayob.

"We can deal with their shocking evidence, shocking contradiction. The neighbour who is a Muslim man who stood by and watched this assault and did nothing about it. Infact he asked his wife to record the event…” added Tayob.

Kader and Sheik were brutally assaulted in Robertsham allegedly by drunken police officers from the Booysens police station in Johannesburg On Sunday 18th November 2012.

“As a citizen, in South Africa it's very important for one to know the law because not every policemen abides by it. I feel very relieved, I feel justice has been done to us and the truth did come out…and I feel peace at heart,” said Kader.

“All I want to say is Jazaka’Allah to Radio Islam and brother Yousha and all the others. I can’t thank Allah enough. Allah is the Greatest. The truth has come out, I am just too happy, I am just too happy, Allah is the greatest,” said Sheik.

A video that went viral clearly showed how Shireen Sheik and her daughter Naazneen Kader were savagely and brutally assaulted, by police officers that gave scant regard for the two Muslim women.

When the story (Muslim Women Brutally Unveiled by SAPS) broke, a malicious e-mail was circulated accusing Radio Islam of inaccurate and biased reporting on how the events of that day unfolded.

Tayob commented that the court judgment vindicates Radio Islam’s reporting on the story

 “Well absolutely, you are completely absolved by this judgment, I can assure you because this judgment says that they were not guilty of what they were being accused of.”