The draft Anti-Terrorism Bill now before Parliament is not intended to restrict freedom of religion in any way, Deputy President Jacob Zuma said on Wednesday.
Replying to questions in the National Assembly, he said the purpose of the bill was to enable South Africa to fulfil its international obligations regarding terrorism.
These were set by multilateral forums, such as the United Nations and the African Union.
”The bill is also intended to deal with some domestic issues relating to terrorism, as our current definition of terrorism dates back to well before 1994.
Responding to suggestions that, because of recent events, Arabs and Muslims could be ”stereotyped as terrorists”, Zuma said long before September 11, 2001, South Africa had started to look at the issue of terrorism and suitable legislation in this regard, including a description of terrorism.
South Africa had not done this because it was ”instructed” to by the United States.
”Nobody, on the basis of religion, will ever be interfered with in South Africa.”
Any form of oppression would be in conflict with the Constitution, he said.
The government would not in any way seek to restrict the right of worship or the freedom of religion.
As the bill was now before Parliament, it was for Parliament to decide how it should be dealt with and what changes should be made.
”The parliamentary process provides for many further opportunities for the public to make an input into this bill, and I urge all members of the public who may have an interest… to make use of these opportunities,” Zuma said. – Sapa