The Economic Freedom Fighter’s treasurer general Omphile Maotwe has opened a case against attorney Zehir Omar for inciting Muslims to congregate at masaajid despite lockdown regulations prohibiting religious gatherings.
Omar has come under severe criticism after he told Muslims during an interview to use the challenge of the lockdown regulations in the North Gauteng High Court to continue congregations at masaajid without judgement in the matter being passed.
“Using the precedent of what happened in court on Tuesday and today, Taraweeh Insha’Allah continues, salaah with jamaat continues and anyone in this country who is charged criminally or otherwise, I will offer my services free of charge. So what I am telling my Muslim brothers and sisters you continue making salaah with jamaah in the masjid.”
The fiery attorney has since retracted his comments saying the remarks reflected what he believed to be the outcome of the matter having regard to the events in the High Court.
He has also subsequently released another video urging Muslims not attend Masaajid until judgment in the court matter has been handed down.
Speaking to Radio Islam, Maotwe says the case case was opened at the Pretoria Central Police Station on Sunday.
“Attorney Zehir Omar, he is an officer of the court by virtue of being an attorney. And therefore, he seen to be a role model for others. He is a public figure, so people listen to him because he is an attorney and if the officer of the court can mislead people and encourage them to do the wrong thing when he is actually the one who supposed to be upholding the law, therefore it is we’ve got a crisis.”
Maotwe says it doesn’t matter if Omar retracted his comments.
“So, whether he withdrew his statement or not, we’ve opened a case and the law enforcement officers must take the law and charge his as such. He must go and represent himself in court and the court must decide was happen. He must face the full might of the law and let court take the decision on him.”
Maotwe has appealed to South Africans to adhere to the lockdown regulations to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Faizel Patel
Listen to the interview with Omphile Maotwe.
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