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Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 2012-11-24

Attorney Yousha Tayob Gives Perspective On Counter Allegations Against Women Who Claimed Police Brutality In Robertsham Incident

On Thursday, Radio Islam reported on the alleged brutal assault of Shireen Sheik and Naazneen Kader in Robertsham by two Booysens police officers. This followed an incident two days prior of alleged police brutality against Ikraam Seedat in Lenasia.

A video in the possession of Radio Islam and now widely circulated clearly shows how Shireen Sheik and her daughter Naazneen Kader were forcefully dealt with by two police officers in a manner that could be deemed by many as excessive or even brutal!

Since the story broke, Radio Islam has been inundated with calls and comments about the alleged assault. Many sympathised with Shireen and Naazneen, claiming that police handled the matter very poorly especially since women were involved.

One of our presenter's received the following comment from a listener who is a lawyer “Police are advised to carry out minimum force against ladies. From the tape that was taken you can hear the police tell the guy not to take a video and further all they had to do was call for back up and a few female officers. Police brutality during arrest is prevalent country wide. They are not skilled to analyse the situation and take precaution to prevent injuries to all including themselves. I have sued many police officials for this kind of behaviour."

Some however claimed to know the individuals concerned and believe that they brought this upon themselves. Allegations have since surfaced from a " Shahid Abdool" who claims to be  a police officer and who alleges  that this episode was based on a neighbourly spat, the women resisted arrest,attacked the police officers  and lied repeatedly in their version of events.

Yousha Tayob from the Muslim Lawyers Association in an interview on Radio Islam this afternoon said he consulted with the neighbours regarding the incident.  “The entire incident arises from a domestic spat in a single complex. I think it’s relevant to those who want to make it relevant. But it’s not pertinent to the brutality issue,” said Tayob

On the allegations that Naazneen may have tried to resist arrest, Tayob said that "there may be merit in that.”

“But one needs to look at the video, and one need's to look at the injuries (suffered by the women and those who tried to assist) and one clearly sees disproportionality   in the use of force in effecting the arrest." " I don’t know if the SAPS are training with the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) at the moment. You look at the video and these are two grown men who confront fairly medium height women who appear to be in fact in their night clothing as well,” added Tayob

Tayob commented on the e-mail that has been circulating from "Shaheed Abdool" which suggests he witnessed the entire incident. I am really keen to speak to him. I have sent an e-mail to him and I hope he responds favourably,” added Tayob.

Tayob said that even if Naazneen did resist arrest, the extent of the violence upon Naazneen in particular and her mother is shocking. You don’t affect an arrest like that. When one looks at that and one speak to the other sister in the house, she actually had to revive Naazneen. This is attempted murder as far as I am concerned, added Tayob.

Tayob reiterated, once we hear from the Internal Complaints Directorate (IDC) in regards to their investigation, we certainly going to make serious noises about attempted murder here. Even if there was resisting of arrest, this is just uncalled for, it’s unnecessary, it’s unwarranted. And unfortunately this is what our sisters around the world have to go through on a daily basis in the other parts of the world. So, Shocking!