The UN ‘Terror Suspects’ Saga
Last year a senior member of the Ulama fraternity in South Africa was prevented from travelling oversees. Reasons for this prevention were not forthcoming from the country that instructed him to return to South Africa
or from any other source. Soon thereafter another Aalim faced a similar situation. Other events that took place included scholars and Muslim individuals being prevented entry to the US, some being granted visas and
then turned back from the immigration desks at US ports of entry, while
others were forced to disembark the airplane and return from countries
along the way to the US. During the same period, two scholars were detained in an African country without being charged. Then last year, Muslim South Africans living in the US, with legal permits for their work or residence were forced to return. In one case, a South African Aalim, who had a green card and was father to two children who by virtue of their birth in the US were citizens, was turned away from the US at the San Francisco airport. Senior South African Ulama who travel regularly were then also detained at US airports, one being put into a jail with hardened criminals, and forced to
turn back. HSRC director, Professor Adam Habib was then refused entry into the US, while he was on official work for the HSRC. To make matters worse, last week the US consulate called his wife and informed her that her and her children’s travel visas have been revoked. This week, news that two South African Muslims are to be put on the UN list of those supporting terrorism
and Al-Qaaidah, hit the news.

We need to ask ourselves whether these events are not linked, and whether these events, especially the most recent ones, are not part of a larger and more urgent plan.

South Africa has historically been very objective in their approach to issues effecting the rights of their citizens. When the UN demanded the all member countries adopt an anti-terror bill, the SA government deliberated and engaged in widespread consultation with various role-players in this regard. When SA citizens were detained in Pakistan, the SA government took up their case, and they were released without being charged because of lack of evidence for the issues they were allegedly being accused of.

The perception has always been this, that the South African government will not allow themselves to be ‘Ja-Baas’ boys. Experts also assert that there is constant pressure on South Africa to fall in line with US instigated thinking regarding terror and related aspects. Now that South Africa is represented
on the UNSC and is intended to assume the Presidency of the Council, could the current events be part of the concentrated effort to force South Africa to conform?

Finally, if it is so that this is part of the larger US plan, and the US has gone
to such lengths to exert pressure, then what further steps will the US take
to ensure that South Africa does toe-the-line?

Muslims are requested to make du`aa that Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’âla
protects all Muslims from injustices in a period wherein Muslims find themselves facing various challenges from differing sources.

Protests in Lebanon
In the aftermath of the Israeli war on Hezbollah last year, there is a new wave of political action set to influence the Lebanese political landscape.

Large scale protests targeting the US-backed government of Prime Minister Fuad Saniora have brought Beirut and other parts of the country to a virtual stand-still. It is reported that three people have died and scores of others injured in clashes between Hezbollah and supporters of the Lebanese government.

It is important to pay attention to the current political crisis in Lebanon, because Lebanon has become a site of struggle between powers in the
region. It is stated that Iran supports Hezbollah, while Israel and the United States of America would like to see a pro-Western government in power. The current political crisis may be the beginning of an intense political struggle
for control over Lebanon set to unfold in the course of this year. As tensions in the Middle East intensify, Lebanon is bound to become a barometer of regional clashes to come.

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Summarized Jumu’ah Bayaan:

The Significance of ‘Aashura (10th Muharram)