Marianne Merten
About 5 000 Capetonians on Thursday marched in protest against the United States-led bombings of Afghanistan to the razor-wire-surrounded American consulate, bearing posters like “Stop the Oppression”, “Stop the War” and “No Difference Hitler and Bush”.
The peace march was jointly called by the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC), the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the Western Cape Council of Churches (WCCC).
The organisations have strongly condemned the September 11 kamikaze plane attacks on the New York World Trade Centre, but also called for an end to “the senseless slaughter of innocent people” in Afghanistan.
“We are totally opposed to war as a solution to terror as violence begets violence,” WCCC representative Keith Benjamin told marchers.
He said that the US could learn from South Africa’s transition to democracy: “This is the model we can offer to you. We can teach you how to talk [not fight].”
Cosatu provincial leader Tony Ehrenreich said only a United Nations-led initiative against terrorism would bring peace and justice. “We cannot allow one country to dominate the agenda of the world.”
MJC general secretary Sheikh Achmat Sedick told protesters: “No one can fight terror with terror … [but] that is exactly what America is doing. They have declared war against Afghanistan. Do they want to do the same as they did in Iraq?”
Messages of support were received from Cape Town Anglican Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane and People against Gangsterism and Drugs. The anti-drug vigilantes said: “We believe that all civilised and peace-loving communities must be radically opposed to the kind of terrorist attacks America and Britain are waging against Afghanistan.”
Ahead of the Durban anti-racism conference in August an estimated 25000 people marched through Cape Town in protest against the US’s refusal to accept the Palestine question on the agenda.
At Thursday’s march the predominantly Muslim crowd carried Palestinian flags; a few marchers wore T-shirts supporting Osama bin Laden the man fingered by US President George W Bush as the mastermind behind the September 11 attacks and carried posters declaring Bin Laden a hero.
But the Cape Town Muslim community is divided in its response to the call for jihad by Bin Laden. There are some who encourage donations for food and medical aid; others remain gung-ho to join what is seen as the fight against the “American imperialist devil”. Rumours about who is doing what and where abound.
It is doubtful whether Siraaj Hoosain was among the protesters. The chubby-cheeked 18-year-old says he has volunteered to fight “in the army of the Prophet” in Afghanistan and is ready to go “anytime after the matric exams”.
“Protesting, is that going to make a difference? Is that going to make a difference how the American media portrays Muslims? No!” he says.
“I ask myself: is America doing the right thing in attacking Afghanistan? I don’t think so. They started a war. They don’t have proof against Bin Laden.”
According to Hoosain a terrorist is someone who puts fear into communities. “That’s what America has been doing worldwide. America should be charged with international terrorism.”
Wearing one of the many T-shirts featuring the picture of Bin Laden under the slogan “Long Live”, Hoosain quietly and seriously explains it is his duty to fight on the behalf of the oppressed. He already knows how to shoot.
The youngster says he has the support of his mother and is not scared because according to the Qur’an there is nothing to fear but Allah. “When I get there, there will be hardly any food. There won’t be businesses. People are dying of poverty.”
Hoosain is allegedly one of the more than 1 000 people signed up by Muslims Against Illegitimate Leaders to go fight in Afghanistan. And signing up is easy: all it takes is adding one’s name and signature to a petition headed “Sign up for Afghanistan” and adding what city you’re from.
The group’s representative, Abduraghman Khan, insists it is only responding to a need from the Cape Town Muslim community.
Khan maintains that contrary to what other Muslim clerics and organisations may say, there is a duty to take up the Afghani fight according to Surah Nisa of the Qur’an: “And why should we not fight in a cause of God for those that are weak, ill-treated and oppressed, men, women and children whose cry is: Our Lord save us from this place where people are oppressors and raise from amongst us one who can protect.”
Khan also urged the South African government to reconsider its decision to prosecute those leaving for Afghanistan. “Many Cabinet ministers used to be called terrorists themselves. MK [Umkhonto weSizwe] and Apla [Azanian People’s Liberation Army] were trained in Libya.”
Khan was confident sufficient funds would be raised to send South Africa’s own mujahiden (holy warriors) abroad, but as of this week there were no logistical or financial arrangements.