Court in South Africa's town bans Azaan, non-Muslims play it on cars to protest against order
Cape Town: A High Court Order prevented the Madrasah in a town in South Africa, right to sound the Azaan a Muslim call to prayer after an Isipingo resident Chandra Ellaurie, a self-confessed Islamophobe launched a legal application requesting the Madrassah to end the Islamic call to prayer.
Immediately after the move, a community activist group Tactical Shooting Team (TST) has vowed to continue peaceful protest against what they are calling religious intolerance.
Members of the Tactical Shooting Team (TST), led by Rivaaj Ramdas, a practicing Hindu, drove through the streets of Isipingo, south of Durban, in a motorcade, airing the “Azaan” via a loudspeaker, on Sunday afternoon.
Ramdas says this act of solidarity was to show support for the Islamic community and their right to air the “Azaan”. He says the plan is in place to continue other forms of peaceful protest action.
The director of Umvoti Light newspaper and member of the Tactical Shooting Team (TST) Rivaj Ramdas says he and the members of his group have a love for the community irrespective of race, creed or religion.
Residents of all faiths took to the streets in town in a convoy playing out the Azaan on loudspeakers in Isipingo Beach and surrounding areas in protest of a Durban High Court judgment that limits the Azaan or the Islamic call to prayer after resident Chandra Ellaurie said it disturbed his peace and enjoyment of his property.
Judge Sidwell MngadiMngadi said Ellaurie who is Hindu, was “unashamedly opposed” to the Islamic faith propagated by the Madrasah.
Ramdas says when TST heard about the banning of the Azaan, they were livid.
“Tears rolled from our eyes because the truth of the matter is we love God in all His forms and I must say to you that we are especially fond of the Muslim community. Because we are so deeply involved in outreach and feeding and serving the homeless, we are more than acutely aware that the one community that you can count on when it comes to taking care of widows as per the Prophet’s (Muhammad [PBUH]) instructions, taking care of the less fortunate, doing charity, it’s the Muslim community,” said to a portal.
“We as TST, members of the Tactical Shooting Team, we are quite sick and tired of the Muslim community being targeted, being ostracized, being criticized purely for their love for the Almighty.”
Ramdas, a practicing Hindu says Ellaurie is in the dark about Islam and does not know the beauty and teachings of Islam, which is universal and benefits everyone.
“I must say to you that when this beautiful Azaan, that I personally whenever I hear the Azaan if I am driving past a mosque or there is a mosque close to where I live, I am reminded of God. So what could be better than being reminded of our Creator, of the Almighty and our Muslim community is being punished because they love Allah.”
Ramdas says what broader communities need to understand is the prayer does not only benefit the devotee but everyone in South Africa and across the globe.
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Karnataka activates emergency centres over Middle East airspace closures
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has fully activated the SEOC and all DEOCs which are functioning 24x7 to monitor the situation and extend necessary assistance following airspace closures in several Middle Eastern countries, Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said on Sunday.
The action has been taken on the direction of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in view of the prevailing situation that has disrupted international flight operations.
"In view of the prevailing situation in certain Middle Eastern countries, several nations have declared NOTAM (closure of airspace), resulting in significant disruption to international flight operations," Gowda said in a press note.
He said as per the latest advisory issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, airspace over Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, UAE and Qatar remains closed up to March 2.
Gowda said that due to the disruption in air travel, a large number of passengers from various countries have been stranded in affected Middle Eastern countries, particularly in UAE (Dubai).
The State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) and District Emergency Operations Centres (DEOCs) are regularly updating advisories issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Indian Embassies/Consulates in the affected countries, the minister said, adding that the Karnataka Resident Commissioner has also activated the Karnataka Bhavan team in New Delhi for coordination.
Embassy- and Consulate-wise helpline numbers and advisories have been disseminated to all DEOCs and widely circulated through official social media platforms (X and WhatsApp, etc) for public awareness, he said.
The SEOC and the Office of the Karnataka Resident Commissioner, New Delhi, are in close coordination with the Rapid Response Cell of the Ministry of External Affairs, the minister explained.
Requests for assistance received at the SEOC and DEOCs are being compiled and forwarded to the Karnataka Resident Commissioner's Office and the Ministry of External Affairs, he said.
He urged the people from Karnataka in the affected Middle Eastern countries to strictly adhere to the guidelines and advisories issued by the local governments and to contact the respective Indian Embassies/Consulates through helpline numbers and register on the Sarthi Sahayata portal and other official portals of the Embassies/Consulates concerned.
Gowda said he and Siddaramaiah are continuously monitoring the situation and further updates will be issued as necessary.
