Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News, 2014-01-22
Following the alleged police brutality at the May Street Masjid in Durban KwaZulu-Natal last week Friday (17 January) (Read the article here ) a meeting was held on the 21st January regarding the incident.
The meeting was chaired by Advocate AV Mahomed and attended by the Mayor of eThekwini James Nxumalo, metro councilors and the MEC for Housing Ravi Pillay who represented the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Senzo Mchunu.
The Durban Metro police were also invited and promised to attend the meeting, but were conspicuously absent despite numerous calls for them to attend.
Imran Shah an attorney who was allegedly assaulted by the metro police officers described the incident that took place and the manner in which the metro police stormed the masjid with their shoes on during the Jumu'ah Salaah and the altercation that transpired thereafter.
Nxumalo said he acted immediately when he heard about the incident and outlined three points to the attendees:
- He issued an unreserved apology on behalf of the Metro council and the African National Congress (ANC) to the Muslim community.
- He urged those assaulted, that it is their democratic right to lay criminal charges against the metro officers.
- He duly apologized for being late for the meeting, as he had come from an eThekwini EXCO meeting where he mentioned the May Street Masjid incident was at the top of the agenda.
At the conclusion of the meeting, it was resolved that a full investigation would be undertaken and a report handed to the EXCO on the 28th January by City Manager Sibusiso Sithole who is in charge of Metro Police.
Nxumalo also urged members to submit their report to the Mayor’s office and if any officer is found guilty, disciplinary action would be instituted.
A suggestion was brought forward for the Council to provide parking at the nearby vacant land for musallees during Jumu'ah to which Nxumalo responded by saying that the masjid committee must meet with his office to find a lasting solution to the problem.
Nxumalo urged members to abide by the law but reiterated that it was unacceptable for the metro police officers to enter the masjid with shoes on and especially while musallees were reading salaah.
“They could have waited till after prayers to arrest any member they wanted,” he said
MEC for Housing Ravi Pillay, on behalf of the Premier Senzo Mchunu offered apologies and said that the premier would follow the outcome of the investigation closely.
(Twitter: @Faizie143)
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