‘TERROR’ TWINS LIKED PARTIES
A TERRORISM expert has cautioned South African authorities to handle cases against those alleged to have links to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis) with care, or face involuntarily radicalising others into believing the ethos of the militant organisation.
Martin Ewi, of the Institute of Security Studies, said the government had been “discreet” about threats of terrorism until the arrest of four people in Johannesburg at the weekend following prolonged investigations.
A few weeks ago, the US Embassy issued an alert about possible attacks at upmarket malls in Johannesburg and Cape Town. But the government played it down, saying nothing had come of a previous warning.
Judging by the arrests, Ewi said authorities seemed to be “acting, but discreetly”, as they did not want to antagonise segments of society.
He said the change in stance could mean the government believed the matter was getting out of hand, or felt those under surveillance remained a cause for concern.
“Government must handle these cases cautiously. In certain incidents (in other countries), these types of cases radicalised other individuals,” he warned.
On Saturday, siblings Fatima and Ibrahim Mohammed Patel were arrested after the Hawks swooped on their home in Azaadville, Krugersdorp. A stun grenade and about 20 rounds of ammunition were seized. They are facing individual charges of possession of ammunition.
The pair appeared in the Kasigo Magistrate’s Court on Monday and the case was adjourned to next week.
According to their lawyer, Yousha Tayob, Ibrahim, 33, a businessman and father of three, and Fatima, 24, who is single, co-operated with the police when they pounced on their home on Saturday morning.
He said when asked if they had anything illegal to hand over, Ibrahim produced the grenade, which he allegedly obtained while with the local community policing forum and had not returned.
Fatima said she had around 20 bullets remaining from hunting trips she had been on with her brother and friends in the community.
“They co-operated with the police and nothing untoward was found.”
Tayob said the offences were “trumped up by the State to appease its US, UK and Israeli masters”.
Despite allegations that the siblings tried to travel to Syria last year to join Isis (also known as Isil: the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant), Tayob said this was untrue. He said Fatima, who was home schooled, had stayed at home to look after their sickly mother. Their father is a moulana. “All of them are taking strain... No one wants to be in custody. On Saturday, the State said they would not oppose bail but now they have,” Tayob said.
The chairman of the Azaadville Neighbourhood Watch, Ismail Nana, told POST he knew the Patels and that Ibrahim had been with the CPF for three to four months in 2010. He said the CPF would not have weapons such as stun grenades in its possession.
“So where did he get it from? I don’t know,” said Nana. He added the siblings were from a conservative family and Fatima, who wore purdah (a veil), lived a private life.
Condemned
“As a community, we find it difficult to believe anyone is involved in such activities, which are condemned by all.”
Nana said the siblings’ parents, who he spoke to after the arrest, told him they believed them to be innocent.
“Their father was shocked, traumatised and was crying. He said they had no terrorist ties. Their mother, who was hospitalised recently, was also in shock.”
He said Azaadville had always been a peaceful, law-abiding community.
“We don’t condone violence and terrorism and don’t believe anyone in the community would willingly participate in terrorism.”
During the raid, a second home, about 1km away, was also searched.
According to Tayob, who is also representing the second family, no one was arrested but electronic equipment and a school book were confiscated.
The Azaadville CPF declined to comment.
A neighbour of the Patels, who declined to be named, said he was shocked that people staying around him had been accused of having links to Isis.
That day the police also arrested twin brothers Brandon-Lee and Tony-Lee Thulsie, 23, of Newclare, on terrorism-related charges. They appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday and remain in custody until next week.
The twins, allegedly plotted to cause explosions at a mission of the US and Jewish institutions in South Africa on behalf of Isis.
According to a family friend, who asked to remain anonymous, they converted from Christianity to Islam in 2014. They partied, had girlfriends, took part in sports activities and even started a DJ business during their later school years.
They grew up in a mixed Christian and Muslim family in the Joburg suburb of Newclare and attended Chris J Botha Secondary School in nearby Bosmont.
They changed their names to Salahuddin and Yaqeen ibn Hernani with Yaqeen’s new Facebook page and Instagram posts referring to Islamic State. However, his posts stopped in 2015.
According to the provisional charge sheet, from October 2015 to July 8, they conspired to commit terrorist activities in Johannesburg.
The State said they unlawfully and intentionally conspired to commit the crime of terrorism by planning to cause explosions at a mission of the US and Jewish institutions in order to endanger life, cause death and/or serious bodily harm, and the destruction or substantial damage to such institutions.
Such conspiracy and incitement, read the charge sheet, was intended to cause and spread feelings of terror, fear or panic in the civilian population of South Africa, and in particular the US and Jewish sector, and to intimidate the US government.
“Such conspiracy and incitement was directly or indirectly, in whole or part, to further the political, religious or ideological motives and objectives of Isis.”
The second charge, reported the African News Agency, was linked to the alleged plan by the brothers to leave for Syria and join Isil to engage in terrorist activity.
They were also charged with contravening the constitutional democracy of the country by attempting to commit acts associated with terrorist activities.
According to reports, the two bearded brothers sat closely together in the dock.
Brandon wore a grey hoodie and had a black kufi (round cap) and Tony wore a black thawb (robe).
Brandon blew a kiss to his mother as they made their way down the stairs to the holding cells.
Their mother, who was crying, left the courtroom in a hurry, while being comforted by family.
Wendy Kahn, the national director of the Jewish Board of Deputies, said terrorism was a global challenge that affected many countries, including South Africa, and that they appreciated efforts by South African authorities to monitor and prevent incidents of terrorism.
The US Embassy had not commented at the time of publication.
Hawks spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said terrorism was regarded as a priority and the arrests followed prolonged investigations into alleged terror activities.