Quranic reciter’s visit to SA may be off
SECRECY shrouds an expected visit by internationally acclaimed Quranic reciter Fatih Seferagic for the month of Ramadaan, which has been harshly criticised following several allegations of sexual assault against him.
Last year, a US-based non-profit organisation, Facing Abuse in Community Environments (Face), launched an investigation into the allegations against the German-born reciter.
In July last year, Face said it had concluded phase one of its four-phase process of the public investigation, speaking to about 30 sources.
“This number includes at least 13 victims who have made credible allegations that include physical assault, rape, child molestation, spiritual abuse, manipulation and financial abuse,” according to an update posted on Facebook.
It is not yet known how far the investigation has progressed, and how many alleged victims there are.
A poster shared by Seferagic of the intended visit for the first 10 days of Ramadaan did not include a single South African organisation facilitating the visit.
City resident Nadia Jacobs said although she was asked to assist in providing a venue for his welcome dinner, she cancelled shortly afterwards for personal reasons.
Jacobs has previously helped to facilitate international guests’ visits to South Africa for religious and educational purposes.
“In regard to Fatih Seferagic’s visit to South Africa, I wish to explicitly place on record that I am not his host/organiser or involved in inviting him in any capacity whatsoever. Currently, I am not aware of whether his intended trip to South Africa will still take place and when that might be,” said Jacobs.
“The recent attention in the media insofar as the allegations are concerned have garnered much interest in the matter, and we wish to distance ourselves from such a debacle to protect our personal integrity and our fear of displeasing Almighty Allah.”
The Muslim Judicial Council’s second deputy president, Shaykh Riad Fataar, said he believed all programmes had been cancelled. However, this was not confirmed or denied.
Several requests for comment sent to Seferagic’s management went unanswered.