Moving tribute

ON SATURDAY afternoon, September 26, the Islamic Unity Convention (IUC) hosted its 46th annual Commemoration of the death in detention of AshShaheed Imam Abdullah Haron.

This emotionally laden event was held at a venue appropriately named the Ash-Shaheed Imam Abdullah Haron Learning Centre in Maitland, a stone’s throw away from the police station where the Imam died.

The hall was filled to capacity with many enthusiastic people coming from neighbouring townships.

The meeting was privileged to have Mr Mahmoud Mahomed Hanif Patel as the keynote speaker. He is an academic literacy specialist who heads the Academic Development Programme in the faculty of arts, English Department, at UWC. He is also a former Umkhonto we Sizwe operative. He addressed the issue of “corruption” globally and the extent to which it is permeating our government and civil society.

Imam Achmad Cassiem, chairperson of the IUC, a political activist who was one of the youngest people to be imprisoned on Robben Island, delivered a stirring address in which he outlined the role the late Imam played in fighting corruption. The highlight of the day was the march by all those who attended the commemoration, led by the Habibia Muslim Brigade, along the streets leading to the Maitland Police Station in Voortrekker Road.

The aim was to place a plaque commemorating the death of Imam Abdullah Haron at the very police station where he was martyred 46 years ago. In a symbolic gesture, 46 youngsters each put a rose at the entrance to the police station.

To many of the hundreds of people who were privileged to witness this moving tribute, it must have been difficult not to shed a tear or two. Y Abrahams Executive member of the Islamic Unity Convention (IUC)