/ 19 May 1999

ELECTION BOYCOTT PLANNED

THE organisation Muslims Against Illegitimate Leaders will launch a campaign to discourage people from voting in the June 2 election, according to Mail spokesman Abdurahman Khan. Organisations affiliated to the Islamic Unity Convention decided at the weekend to encourage people not to vote, Business Day reported in its Tuesday edition. The IUC claims to represent thousands of Muslims countrywide. It cited the fact that no political party expresses the religious aspirations of Muslims, who could not support a secular state. Th IUC is protesting lack of service delivery, inaction on crime and government’s support for sexual orientation rights an the rights of prostitutes. Khan said the Pan Africanist Congress was the only party vaguely appealing to Mail because it supported the punishment of criminals by amputation, the report said.