Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News, 2015-04-16
The Jamiatul Ulama South Africa has condemned the recent xenophobic attacks saying it is tragic and blight on communities and the country.
The xenophobic violence which began last week has left five people dead and over 2,000 people from Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Burundi displaced as a result of the violence.
Secretary General of Jamiatul Ulama Moulana Ebrahim Bham said that people cannot run away from the problems of the country and everyone must shoulder responsibility.
“Each and everyone should be concerned, make dua and turn to Almighty Allah in repentance and forgiveness.”
Moulana Bham said Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) brought people from disparate backgrounds into a single community.
“Together on the basis of equality, distinguished not by the colour of their skin, hierarchy, background, but by their taqwa and piety. I think we can also do the same in today’s time.”
Moulana Bham reiterated that people should not have any overtones of one community being better than the other, and despite the influx of foreign nationals in to South Africa, people should play a role in assisting them.
“They should be integrated in such a way that they do not become a burden upon the locals or they do not become a burden upon the resources.”
Moulana Bham highlighted that there was a criminal element in society that do not have a moral compass which prevents them from distinguishing right from wrong and therefore have an opportunistic element.
He said foreign nationals should also realise they have a responsibility to the country they are living in.
“They cannot get away with this situation that ‘we are only here for our own purposes, we are only here for our own benefit without taking into our account.’”
Moulana Bham said much more needs to be done to quell the current attacks and to create harmonious communities going forward.
“Every party, whether it be the people who have come from abroad, the local people, all of them need to play a role so that we can have a cohesive social fabric and a peaceful and harmonious society.”
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