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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KKR defeat LSG via Super Over
Lucknow (PTI): Kolkata Knight Riders edged Lucknow Super Giants via Super Overs in a battle between two bottom-placed teams in the IPL, here on Sunday.
Chasing a modest 156, LSG suffered a batting collapse and managed to tie the contest and take it to Super Over with No. 9 Mohammed Shami striking a last-ball six against a wayward Kartik Tyagi, who leaked 16 runs in the final over.
But Sunil Narine bowled a stunning Super Over conceding just one run and taking two wickets to give KKR an easy target.
Rinku Singh then finished the chase with a boundary off first ball from Prince Yadav.
Earlier the KKR were in deep trouble with 93/7 in 15 overs but Rinku smashed a sensational 83 not out from 51 balls including four sixes in a row in the final over to lift them to 155/7.
Cameron Green (34) was the only other batter to reach double-digit scores as KKR suffered a familiar batting meltdown with Mohsin taking his maiden fifer.
In reply, LSG continued their dismal show with the bat to succumb to their fifth loss in a row.
Brief Scores:
Kolkata Knight Riders 155/7; 20 overs (Rinku Singh 83 not out, Cameron Green 34; Mohsin Khan 5/23). Lucknow Super Giants 155/8; 20 overs (Rishabh Pant 42). KKR won via Super Over.
