Mohammed Bilal, 2013.12.12

South Africa is fortunate to have a delegation from the UK based human rights organisation, Cageprisoners (CP) descend on our shores.  Hosted by the Muslim Lawyers Association (MLA), CP are on a weeklong country wide tour which commenced on the 9th December until the 15th December 2013.

A few years ago, members of the MLA travelled to the UK and met with members of CP. Sharing the same ideas and ideals, eventually resulted in this visit by CP to South Africa. One of the purposes of this visit, as explained by Yusha Tayob, is to establish a Cageprisoners office in Johannesburg.

Speaking at a public gathering at the Greenside Masjid, MD of CP Muhammad Rabbani asked few fundamental, yet pertinent questions,’ Twelve years ago 9/11 attacks took place. Does anyone actually know who the perpetrators were? Was anyone brought to justice? Was any evidence produced? Was anyone charged with that crime? Yet within few weeks after the attacks, USA launched a vicious attack on the people of Afghanistan. Thousands of civilians were murdered. Many homes, many lives destroyed.  A torture camp was opened in Cuba called Guantanamo Bay. More than 800 Muslim brothers were pickup up thanks to ‘tipoffs’ from people who were promised as much as $5000 reward. Most were released over the years due to lack of evidence.  However, 164 Muslim brothers still languish in Guantanamo Bay.

Radio Islam broadcasted a public talk by Cageprisoners Live from Masjid Ur Rahma, Greenside:

MD of CP Muhammad Rabbani: 

Kindly report broken link or feedback:
mbilal@radioislamlive.com  or  Tweet to @SpreadingSalaam

Moazzam Begg, Outreach Director at Cageprisoners said: ‘We’re travelling to South Africa to draw attention to issues of injustice, oppression and discrimination at a time when those issues have been given national prominence by the passing of Nelson Mandela.” 

Moazzam Begg, Outreach Director at CP:

Cageprisoners uses the language and understanding of international human rights and humanitarian law in order promote the rights of detainees around the world that they be treated within the civilised norms of justice, and to ensure that they are given their due rights.  CP also educates and campaigns for the repatriation or asylum for the Guantanamo Bay detainees in particular and that other prisoners around the world.

Mufti Moosagie spoke to human rights lawyer Maqbul Javed of Cageprisoners who is part of the South African tour:

One of the main reasons that CP was instituted was due to its ability to reach the Muslim community by understanding its needs from a very personal perspective.  However, it is important to note that CP will not restrict itself only to Muslims but to work towards human rights which are transcendental to religion, politics or culture.

Support the work of Cageprisoners and give `a voice to the voiceless.’
Visit: http://www.cageprisoners.com/