28 April 2020

ATT : MINISTER OF POLICE
          Honourable general Bheki Cele

CC :  MINISTER OF DEFENCE AND MILITARY VETERANS
         Ms Nosiviwe Noluthando Mapisa-Nqakula

         MINISTER OF STATE SECURITY
         Ms A Dlodlo

         MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION
         Dr Naledi Pandor

Dear General Cele

RE: OFFENSIVE REMARKS MADE BY POLICEMAN

South African Muslim Network notes comments attribute to yourself expressing regret for the derogatory comments about Islam and Almighty God’s last Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him and all God’s prophets) made by a policeman, on 24th April 2020, during the raids/arrest of Muslim worshipers who were in contravention of lockdown regulations.

Notwithstanding the transgression of the worshipers, the insults made by the attending police people were very offensive and in contravention of all South Africans constitutionally enshrined right to religious freedom, dignity and self-respect.

We do not know whether the comments made by the arresting officers were:
a. Out of anger,
b. Reflective of poor knowledge or misconception about the Muslim religious beliefs
c. As a result of either, an Islamophobic mindset garnered over time as a result of watching blatantly biased coverage about Islam and Muslims in films, news and mainstream media etc.
d. Or more concerning and dangerous for the rainbow nation , is whether during police briefing sessions before deployment, or during college training, or during specialized training for crowd control or terrorism or any insurgency, there is training or briefing material could be the cause of a misconception about Islam.

It is common knowledge that all our security structures cooperate highly with western security structures and there is sharing of material, professionals and skills transfers especially since 9-11 and the War on Terror, with the Western governments pushing their world view Vis-a-Vis Islam and a one-world order. The Islamophobic mentality of many of the western governments is well documented and no secret at all and the skills transfers and training of our people whether locally or in their countries comes with ensuring that their worldview is entrenched in their material and training and any other financial or logistical support.

Our concern is that those training manuals and mentality have been incorporated to the SAPS, SSA, SANDF and other like bodies and this is reflective in the attitude of the police officers during the raid. We strongly believe the material being used in colleges, in training and briefings, especially when it
originates from western security structures must be reviewed to ensure there is no racist or bias toward any religion or minority group. The behaviour of the specific police officers also has to be investigated and they should undergo some sensitivity training about religion and diversity. We would gladly assist with arranging of such education.

Kind regards
Dr. Faisal Suliman
Chairperson

21 APRIL 2020

ATT: KWAZULU-NATAL PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT PREMIER
         MR. SIHLE ZIKALALA

CC : MEC FOR HEALTH
MS NOMAGUGU SIMELANE-ZULU

Dear Honourable Comrade Sihle Zikalala

RE: SELF ISOLATION

SAMNET notes with pleasure your clarification of initial media reports suggesting that your office and the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health had instructed that all self-isolation should be done in State facilities and that home or private institutional self isolation would not be permitted in our province. We believe and are relieved at your clarification, given the fact that the State facilities are already overburdened financially, logistically and under staffed with human resources.

Had the policy of isolation in state facilities, as initially reported, been implemented, it would have overburdened already stretched state facilities, state resources and funding to care for asymptomatic or well patients in isolation, whereas this can adequately be done at home or another controlled setting. People would also have been discouraged by such a policy, to test and report. Our extensive information campaigns in association with organizations like the Islamic Medical Association of South Africa (IMASA), have been directed towards health education and compliance with national disaster management act regulations and provisions of the lockdown.

Our community has for the overwhelming majority, responded very positively and proactively to
help “flatten the curve“. We continue to urge our communities and those who have tested Covid 19 positive, to strictly follow self quarantine regulations and to abide by our laws and general medical advice. Muslims are going to start the holy month of Ramadhan on Friday, the 24th April 2020, which entails many additional requirements over and above the normal requirements of prayer as well as enhanced spirituality and praying time, and the ability to self-isolate will certainly allow fasting Muslims, not withstanding the inability to go to mosque to pray, the ability to carry out the requirements of the month of Ramadhan within their homes with adequate support structures while still self-isolating and strictly abiding by quarantine regulations.

We will continue to promote our information campaigns and look forward to working with you to ensure that we all beat the disease together. We should not be burdening state facilities, nor punishing the entire public, because a few people have not abided by quarantine regulations. Our community will continue, even during the fasting, to be at the forefront of delivering food and PPE to vulnerable communities, as we have been since the pandemic started. We attach a report detailing the spend of our community in food provisions for the deserving since the start of the lockdown.

Kind Regards,
Dr Faisal Suliman
Chairman of SAMNET

18th April 2020

SAMNET & IMASA COVID 19 STATEMENT

The South African Muslim Network (SAMNET) and the Islamic Medical Association of South Africa (IMASA) wish to commend government’s evidence based and definitive approach to dealing with the COVID19 crisis and the exceptional efforts of our Medical and Scientific Experts.

We call on the public to be patient and support the staged and scientific plan to assess the lockdown. It is imperative that the public participate in the testing measures using the 28,000 community health care workers.

We urge the public to be vigilant and to ensure that they take safety precautions when approached for testing and note the critical advice provided:

▪ Testers are not required to enter your home.
▪ They should be accompanied by members of the SAPS.
▪ If you are uncertain ask for any private security or via neighborhood groups to verify that testing is underway in your area.

We encourage the public to show courtesy, respect and to thank these workers who are making a concerted effort to ensure the safety of our families, communities and the country. The faster we can test and more testing we complete the quicker we may be able to beat this Pandemic, Insha Allah – Almighty God willing. We note that many citizens are undergoing different hardships especially where they have lost income.

Our Caring Sisters Network (CSN) Team in association with many other relief organizations including IMASA has been working hard to assist those in need. Sadly, we must recognize that there will be tough times ahead for everyone. We encourage families and communities to start working at self-sufficiency projects like home vegetable gardens to supplement their needs in the next few months.

Media reports suggest that there is a growing element of stigmatization of people who have tested positive for COVID19 and this may lead to people not testing or disclosing, which could result in further spread of the virus and prolong the period of the pandemic. We remind anyone inclined to be judgemental or who uses social media to denigrate someone who has tested positive, whether ill or not, that such people would have become infected accidentally and unwittingly, through no fault of their own. Our religious teachings and the example of our Prophet, peace be upon him, is that of
compassion and mercy, and we need to demonstrate this in our words and actions.

Remember the Hadith (saying of the Prophet Muhammed, peace be upon him)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

“Wondrous is the affair of the Believer for there is good for him in every matter and this is not the case with anyone except the Believer. If he is happy, then he thanks Allah (SWT) and thus there is good for him, and if he is harmed, then he shows patience and thus there is good for him.”
(Sahih Muslim)

Let us not STIGMATIZE, DISCRIMINATE or LOOK DOWN UPON anyone who is COVID19 positive. Rather:
▪ Communicate – keep in touch.
▪ Assist with medication, shopping, food deliveries etc – with all the necessary precautions and within the lockdown guidelines.
▪ Remember them in your prayers and supplications to Almighty God. (Duas)

TO THE PATIENT AND PATIENT’S FAMILY

Do not feel guilty about your or your family members’ illness. Insha Allah (Almighty God willing) you will earn a reward from Allah (SWT) by notifying ALL possible contacts of the patient within the preceding 14 days, to seek medical advice. Kindly employ physical distancing and self-isolation, which are the most important tools to stop the spread of the disease. Do not neglect social engagement. We encourage our community to use the extended lockdown to improve skills,
education and to be productive.

We pray that the Almighty guide us and protect South Africa and the world.

SAMNET : Dr Faisal Suliman
IMASA : Dr Yakub Moosa Essack