Urging worshipers to denounce extremism, Ziyaee stressed that Africans need "peace, security and humanity" more than before.
CAPE TOWN – As Xenophobic attacks increase in South Africa, Muslims leaders are calling on people to renounce violence and promote coexistence in the African country.
"To see South Africa transform into a hub of happiness and peace from which issued forth the fountains of love, freedom, compassion, generosity and morality, we want to see a better South Africa, we want the communities to stand united against Xenophobia; and we must remember there is no superiority in this world," said Sayed Ridhwaan Mohamed, Spokesperson of The Cape Town Islamic Educational Centre.
"The superiority of a person lies in the sight of God," he stressed.
Ridhwaan's fiery speech came on the brink of headlines out of Durbin announcing seven new killings in the latest round of xenophobic violence against poorer immigrants, many from South Africa's neighbors. According to a CNN report, police say they have arrested more than 300 people in the last three weeks since influential Zulu king Goodwill Zwelithini, an ally of South African president Jacob Zuma, said that foreigners should leave the country because they are taking jobs from citizens.
But on Monday, Zwelithini said he had not called for a war on immigrants. "This war I am calling for today is to protect everyone of foreign origin in this country irrespective of which country they are from."
The United Nations said the attacks actually began in March after a labor dispute between citizens and foreign workers.
“Many Muslims are also victims of the xenophobic attacks, we as Muslims, it is our responsibility to pray and engage in dua and salawaat, we should beg to the Almighty to restore peace and harmony on our South African soil," Ridhwaan added.
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Numerous Muslim leaders and mosques are joining government efforts to curb escalating xenophobia in the country. Friday sermons are also being used by imams to address issues that contradict with the teachings of Islam.
Founding leader of the Cape Town Islamic Educational Centre, Allama Moulana Sayed Imraan Shah Ziyaee, used this past week's Jummah Friday gathering as an opportunity to discuss the subject of xenophobia with Muslim community members.
Urging worshipers to denounce extremism, Ziyaee stressed that South Africans need "peace, security, and humanity" more now than ever before.
During the imam's sermon, he cited verses of the holy Qur'an and passages from hadith that denounce intolerance and call for peace.
The Friday sermon was concluded with the words of former President Nelson Mandela, “to deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity.”
"And we as South Africans, we are denying the basic human rights of foreign nationals," Ziyaee added.
Jailed 27 years for fighting white minority rule, Mandela became South Africa's first black president in 1994.
The Nobel Peace Prize 1993 was awarded jointly to Nelson Mandela and Frederik Willem de Klerk "for their work for the peaceful termination of the apartheid regime, and for laying the foundations for a new democratic South Africa"
On 5 December 2013, Nelson Mandela, the first President of South Africa elected in a fully representative democratic election, died at the age of 95 after suffering from a prolonged respiratory infection dating back to the time he endured at Robben Island prison camp near Cape Town. He died at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg, South Africa, surrounded by his family, from among whom he was affectionately known as, "Madiba". Mandela's death was announced by President Jacob Zuma. Reactions from governments, international organizations, and notable individuals, gained worldwide media coverage. South Africa observed a national mourning period of 10 days.
Prior to 1994, immigrants faced discrimination and even violence in South Africa, though much of that risk stemmed from the institutionalized racism of the time due to apartheid.
After democratisation in 1994, contrary to expectations, the incidence of xenophobia increased. Between 2000 and March 2008, at least 67 people died in what were identified as xenophobic attacks.
In May 2008, a series of riots left 62 people dead; although 21 of those killed were South African citizens. The attacks were apparently motivated by xenophobia.
In 2015, another nationwide spike in xenophobic attacks against immigrants in general prompted a number of foreign governments to begin repatriating their citizens.
The demographics of South Africa encompass about 52 million people of diverse origins, cultures, languages, and religions; Muslims comprise just over 1.5 percent of the population according to the CIA World Factbook.
The last census was held in 2011, the next one is slated to take place anywhere between 2016–2021.
Related Links:
Mandela’s Journey With Islam, MuslimsWorld Muslims Give Respects To Mandela
Muslims in Post-Apartheid South Africa
South Africa: Many Muslims, One Islam
S. Africa Legalizes Islamic Marriages
