Muslim cop: I can't share toilet

2012-07-11 12:14

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Johannesburg - A Muslim police officer in Johannesburg says his religion does not allow him to share a toilet with black colleagues, according to a report on Wednesday.

Superintendent Munaf Ismail, head of the Zonkizizwe police station on the East Rand, told the New Age newspaper that for religious reasons, he used the toilet for people with disabilities.

"I am a Muslim and they need to consider my religion. I have to sit when I urinate and I cannot use a dirty toilet. People are narrow-minded and I am a committed Muslim."

A police officer told the newspaper the station commander and two white colleagues were the only people who had access to the toilet.

The Islamic Council of SA's Amir Hazarvi said no Muslim scripture stated Muslims could not share bathrooms with people from other races, religions or cultures.

"It might be personal or for hygienic reasons in this case, because in the Islam religion men sit when urinating," he told the New Age.

The SA Police Union's Oscar Skommere told the New Age apartheid was over and discrimination on the basis of gender and race was not allowed.

- SAPA