Protect prayer places

THE MJC (South Africa) is deeply concerned about the spate of recent break-ins at Islamic institutions in the Mitchells Plain area last week.

The Mitchells Plain Islamic Trust, as well as Masjidul Thani in Rocklands, Mitchells Plain were burgled and vandalised with valuable items stolen, including computers, a video camera, sound equipment, two-way radios and cash.

“Any house of prayer, whether a mosque, synagogue or church, is sacred and seen by the community as places of worship, comfort and refuge. Burglaries at these places are amongst the worst acts ever to perpetrate,” said the MJC’s secretary-general Shaykh Isgaak Taliep. We urge the community to keep a close eye on the houses of Allah Almighty since a Masjid is a communal responsibility. We would also like to encourage neighbourhood watches to be extra vigilant and do extra patrols in the vicinity of all houses of prayer.”

A case has been opened at the local police station for investigation, but there are no leads at this stage.

We call upon the community to try and assist with donations to make up the loss encountered by the break-ins.

Anyone willing to assist with donations can call the Imam of Masjidul Thani in Rocklands, Maulana Sabrie Davids on 084 844 0481 and/or the chairperson of the the Mitchells Plain Islamic Trust, Brother Mohammad Hendricks, on 074 186 0364. Shaykh Isgaak Taliep Secretary-General Muslim Judicial Council