Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News, 2013-10-31    

The Jamiatul Ulama of South Africa says violence against women and children is an embarrassment that has globally reached unprecedented levels.

In a press statement Moulana Ebrahim Bham, the secretary general of the Jamiat SA said with high rates of homicide, rape as well as childhood and domestic violence, the gravity of the phenomenon in South Africa is markedly acute.

“This problem is severely undermining our nation’s economic and social Development,” said Moulana Bham.

The statement said the scourge is so widespread that it affects people from all walks of life regardless of socioeconomic status, ethnicity, age and religion. Preventing and reducing levels of violence has been a missing piece in the national transformation agenda. It needs to be addressed robustly as a national priority.

“While domestic violence exists in both Muslim and non?Muslim societies, the position of Islam on the kind treatment of women and children is very clear as mentioned in the Noble Qur’an and exemplified through the life and character of Prophet Muhammad (May peace be upon him).”

The Jamiatul Ulama South Africa has undertaken to encourage Imams (Muslim scholars) conducting the Jumu‘ah (Friday Prayers) on 1 November 2013 at various masjids in the region to highlight the need of purging society of such ills.

As a source of reference a transcript of a common lecture on the topic has been prepared and circulated to them.

It can be accessed at www.islamsa.org.za

This initiative the statement said is in part a response to the call made by the Minister for Children, Women and people with Disabilities Minister Lulu Xingwana and the National Religious Leaders Council (NRLC) for a “Focus Week?End” week starting on Friday, 1 Nov ? Sunday, 3 Nov 2013 to highlight “Violence against women & children.”

Various faith groups would participate in the campaign to highlight the abuse of women, children and people with disabilities among their specific congregations.

(Twitter: @Faizie143 )