SA detainees: 'ANC must help'

2008-08-26 18:01

Johannesburg - The Media Review Network (MRN) has appealed to ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe to help find out why two South African relief workers have been arrested in Uganda.

"After numerous attempts by the family lawyer for information about the two men from the department of foreign affairs, diplomatic access was eventually secured from the Ugandan authorities. This took a week to process," MRN chairperson Iqbal Jassat wrote in a letter to Mantashe on Tuesday.

The MRN was "troubled and anxious" at how long it had taken the department to get information about citizens in a foreign country, even though it had a High Commissioner in Kampala, he added.

Legal counsel

"Unfortunately, this has led to a perceived lack of interest as well as negative speculation vis-á-vis the Department of Foreign Affairs.

"As a desperate measure the family had to obtain the services of legal counsel in Kampala to assist them," Jassat said.

Mufti Hussain Bhayat, of Lenasia, and Haroon Saley, of Azaadville, were detained last week during a stopover at Entebbe International Airport, in Kampala, and are being held at the offices of Uganda's joint security.

On Monday, the two relief workers were still undergoing questioning and had not had any charges put to them.

South Africa's High Commissioner Henry Chiliza was able to visit them on Monday.

After speaking to Chiliza on Tuesday, Mamoepa said there were "no new developments at this stage".

Two Ugandans arrested with the South Africans have since been released.

Islamaphobia

Uganda's New Vision online newspaper reported that they were taken in by a joint anti-terrorism task force on suspicion of being involved in terrorist activities.

The Muslim Judicial Council has expressed concern that they may be the subjects of Islamophobic profiling in an international anti-terror crackdown.

"Both gentlemen represent a charitable organisation, The Crescent of Hope, and have been involved in relief work on the continent and at home for many years," wrote Jassat.

In his letter to Mantashe, he said the MRN believed they should be charged if evidence was found about their alleged terrorist activities.

"If not then the department, through its High Commissioner, should assist in securing their immediate release so that they are able to return to their home and their loved ones.

"The anger and frustration of the Muslim community at this stereotyping and religious profiling is quite understandable.

"The Muslim community would be deeply grateful to the ANC if you could add your voice to their call for the unconditional release of the two men."

The MRN has described the men's visit as a fact-finding mission to investigate the possibility of acceding to Kenyan requests for relief and to look at the chances of relief work in Uganda in response to requests for assistance.

- SAPA