Statistics have shown a woman is raped approximately every four minutes in South Africa. The brutal rape and murder of 17-year-old Anene Booysen in the Western Cape left South Africans not only outraged but wondering how to properly respond to the country’s rape crisis.

On Friday the 01st March 2012 more than 10 million South African pupils were given lessons about rape and sexual crimes.  The basic education department conducted a stop rape campaign to raise awareness following the outrage over the high number of rapes in the country.

This campaign was echoed by the Jamiatul Ulama South Africa who pledged, “To honour my mother, my daughter and my sister!”

The Jamiat's secretary General Moulana Ebrahim Bham said they are concerned with the trend of violence against children and women where the incidence of attacks and rape are rife. Statistics indicate that behind the 65,000 of reported cases annually, many more cases go unreported.
 
Moulana Bham reiterated that evil prevails when good people do nothing. “People can no longer continue to remain aloof when so much has gone wrong in society where even a baby in a cradle is not safe from some tendencies of predatory perverts,” he said.

He emphasizes that it’s about time that people of goodwill take appropriate measures to arrest this vice which threatens to shake the foundations of morality in society. The nation has to uphold the respect for the sacredness of the human body, especially that of a woman, by upholding the values of modesty and decency.

The life of every individual regardless of gender, age, nationality or religion is worthy of respect. Islam does not limit the definition of life to the physical body only, but includes the mental, emotional and spiritual dimensions as well. This message is explicit in the words of the Qur’an, “And indeed we have honoured the Children of Adam…” (Qur’an 17:70)

Islam elevated the status of women when it emerged against the backdrop of a society wherein young girls were buried alive and a woman was considered merely an object of gratification. The Qur’an is clear in rebuking these inhuman practices and raised her to a position of honour, “And live with them (your women) in kindness.” (Qur’an 4:19)

In various ways, society has been implored to observe the limits set by Allah with respect to women, whether she is a mother, a spouse or even a daughter. Rasulullah (SAW) has said, “Paradise lies at the feet of your mother.” (Ibn Majah) Furthermore, Rasulullah (SAW) said, “The most perfect in faith amongst believers is he who is best in manners and kindest to his wife.” (Abu Dawud)

Moulana Bham stresses that as a Muslim community, we have the responsibility of sharing these ideals with the rest of humanity in order to liberate our society from the scourge of moral decline. The Jamiatul Ulama South Africa supports the various national initiatives in bringing about genuine change in the attitudes towards combating violence against women and children.