Still no word on SA detainees
2008-08-23 22:22
Johannesburg - There was still no word on Saturday on why two South African Islamic relief workers have been detained in Uganda, a spokesperson for their families said.
Yousha Tayob said they had received acknowledgement from Ugandan authorities that Mufti Hussain Bhayat and Haroon Saley are being detained there, but don't know why.
"We are trying to establish consular access and that will tell us everything we need to know," he said. "We have been given no official reason."
The two were reportedly detained early on Monday morning during a stopover at Entebbe International Airport in the Ugandan capital Kampala.
Uganda's New Vision online newspaper said they were taken for questioning by a joint anti-terrorism task force.
Islamaphobic profiling
The Muslim Judicial Council believe they are being subjected to Islamaphobic profiling and the MJC and the Media Review Network want Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils to intervene.
The two work for Crescent of Hope, an Islamic organisation that does charitable and relief work, and had made the stop-over in Uganda on their way home to South Africa from Kenya.
According to their website, Crescent of Hope was established in 1992 to carry out relief efforts internationally and locally. It assists Muslims to carry out their obligation to spread the word of Allah through humanitarian assistance.
Tayob said it had not yet been possible to communicate with the two men but hoped they could establish consular access through the South African High Commission in Uganda.
He said their families were "still hoping for the best".
Earlier this week Tayob said Bhayat needs treatment twice a month for a chest complaint.
- SAPA