Special Committee on Apartheid Expresses Indignation at Death of Imam Haron in Detention in South Africa http://www.aluka.org/action/showMetadata?doi=10.5555/AL.SFF.DOCUMENT.nuun1969_11 Use of the Aluka digital library is subject to Aluka’s Terms and Conditions, available at http://www.aluka.org/page/about/termsConditions.jsp. By using Aluka, you agree that you have read and will abide by the Terms and Conditions. Among other things, the Terms and Conditions provide that the content in the Aluka digital library is only for personal, non-commercial use by authorized users of Aluka in connection with research, scholarship, and education. The content in the Aluka digital library is subject to copyright, with the exception of certain governmental works and very old materials that may be in the public domain under applicable law. 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For more information about Aluka, please see http://www.aluka.org Special Committee on Apartheid Expresses Indignation at Death of Imam Haron in Detention in South Africa Alternative title Notes and Documents - United Nations Centre Against ApartheidNo. 16/69 Author/Creator United Nations Centre against Apartheid Publisher Department of Political and Security Council Affairs Date 1969-10-00 Resource type Reports Language English Subject Coverage (spatial) South Africa Coverage (temporal) 1969 Source Northwestern University Libraries Description Statement by Mr. Olajide Alo, (Nigeria), Rapporteur, Special Committee on the Policies of Apartheid of the Government of the Republic of South Africa, October 2, 1969. Imam Hadj Abdullah Haron. Appendix: Texts of questions and answers in the South African House of Assembly. Note on recent detentions under the Terrorism Act. Format extent 12 page(s) (length/size) http://www.aluka.org/action/showMetadata?doi=10.5555/AL.SFF.DOCUMENT.nuun1969_11 http://www.aluka.org UNIT ON APARTHEID UNIT ON APARTHEID DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL AND SECURITY COUNCIL AFFAIRS NOTES AND DOCUMENTS* October 1969 SPECIAL COMITTEE ON APARTHEID EXPRFSSES INDIGNATION AT DEATH OF IMAM HARON IN DETENTION IN SOUTH AFRICA Page Statement by Mr. Olajide Alo, (Nigeria), Rapporteur, Special Committee on the Policies of Apartheid of the Government of the Republic of South Africa, October 2, 1969 . ........ Imam Hadj Abdullah Haron ........ Appendix: Texts of questions and answers in the South African House of Assembly . * . .. .... Note on recent detentions under the Terrorism Act . a (Note: At the meeting of the Special Committee on Apartheid October 2, 1969, the Rapporteur drew its attention to the death of Imam Haron in detention in South Africa on September 27. The Committee also took note of a cable from Canon Collins, President of the International Defence and Aid Fund, to the Secretary-General, appealing to him to protest to the South African Government at the death of Imam Haron in detention. The Committee requested the Secretariat to publicize the statement of the rapporteur, and decided to convey a protest through the SecretaryGeneral and to draw the matter to the attention of the General Assembly in the Committee's annual report. The Secretary-General has also received the following cable from Amnesty International: "Following death of Imam Abdullah Haron, fifth South African detainee to die this year, urge immediate United Nations action and public enquiry.") *All material in these notes and documents may be freely reprinted. Acknowledgement, together with a copy of the publication containing the reprint, would be appreciated. No. 16/69 STATEMENT BY MR. OLAJIDE ALO, (NIGERIA), RAPPORTE7R, SPECIAL COHMITTEE ON THE POLICIES OF APARTIEID OF OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA. OCTOBER 2. 1969 When we met to commemorate South Africa Freedom Day, on 26 June last, a good part of my statement reviewed the relentless and callous persecution to which opponents of apartheid are still being subjected in the Republic of South Africa. Members may also recall my drawing attention to the detention, under the Terrorism Act, of Imam Hadj. Abdullah Haron, a prominent Moslem spiritual leader and editor of the Mcslem News in Cape Town. Today, I have no doubt that members share my profound shock and dismay at the news of the death of Imam Abdullah Haron. As reported in the London Times of September 29, the Imam died in prison. The cause of his death has so far not been ascertained. The late Imam Haron was detained on May 28, the anniversary of the birthday of Prophet Mohammed and thus prevented from officiating at that important religious celebration. In addition to such blatant abridgement of his religious freedom, he suffered a loss of most of his fundamental human freedoms and rights under the civilized rule of law. The South African Minister of Police, replying to questions in Parliament on 10 June, confirmed not only that the late Imam Haron was being held under the Terrorism Act, but also that no charges had yet been preferred against any individual in connexion with his detention and that the decision to institute criminal proceedings against any one depended on the available evidence at the end of the investigation. It seems that the investigations continued all through the period of the late Imam's imprisonment. For over four months he was held incommunicado. No permission was granted for his wife or any member of his family, let alone business and religious associates, to visit him. The late Imam Haron was said to be a healthy man in his early forties. It was further said that he had never been seriously ill before. This goes to heighten the sense of mystery and shock at his untimely death. One does not have to wonder for long why he was victimized and harried to an early death by the inhuman and insensitive system of apartheid. As editor of the Moslem News, Imam Abdullah Haron had expressed opposition to racialist ideas and practices. With equal force, he had condemned certain injustices inherent in the rigid apartheid structure in South Africa which are contrary to the teachings of Islam. As a religious teacher, he had often quoted and expounded Koran texts which upheld and called for equality and brotherhood among all men. -2 In the words of Mr. Barney Desai, a former Cape Town City Councillor now living in exile in London, and a great friend of the late Imam Haron: "He was a man who not only opposed aparthe d from the pulpit but actively worked for those who suffered. He helped families of political prisoners with small comforts, often paying the rent or supplying food. This kind of activity was not liked by the aithoi-ities."(The Times, London September 29, 1969). I am sure I am expressing the sentiments of the membership of the Committee in placing on record what an irreparable loss all lovers of human dignity and justice have suffered through the late Iman Haron's death. We extend our condolences to his wife and three children. The insensitivity of racism would hope to see in the passing of such a dedicated man the rise of a stumbling block to the goals of freedom and justice. Let us rededicate ourselves to the cause of the millions of oppressed non-Whites in South Africa. And in this task, may the life of Imam Hadj Abdullah Haron be an inspiration. -3- Imam Had .Abdullah HABON Imam Abdullah Haron, who died in detention at the age of 44, was a prominent religious and community leader in Cape Town. He h-_" been Imam for thirteen years and chairman of the Moslem Judicial Council for 11 years. He had made the pilgrimage to Mecca thrice - the last time in 1968. He had been a member of the editorial board of the Moslem News since its establishment and editor for over four years. He established the Claremont madressa (religious school) and was instrumental in founding the Claremont Moslem Youth Association. (He was forced to move from Claremont to Crawford because of Group Area regulations.) He did not draw any salary as Imam or editor, but worked for a living as a sales representative for a chocolate firm. He was actively interested in sporting activities and was patron of the City and Suburban Rugby Union. In his capacity as editor of Moslem News, and in his sermons, he was outspoken against racial discrimination as contrary to the teachings of the Koran. The Imam was detained under the Terrorism Act on May 28, 1969, the anniversary of the birthday of Prophet Mohamed, and was unable to attend the cereriony "n hi s rr'sque. Leaders of the Moslem community were reported to have felt bitter at the arrest of the Imam, especially on the Prophet's birthday. Questions were asked in the Parliament on June 10 and 13 by Mrs. C.D. Taylor. The MinisteDr of Justi_- stated that the Imam was detained under the Terrorism Act. He *- 1 : to disclose where he was detained or the reasons why ha was detained. (The t!-Yt of the questions and answers are reproduced in the appendix.) In kco ,rdance with the provisions of the Terrorism Act, the Imam was held inco~uric~do without access to his family or attorneys. Aolrm-Oling to Lieutenant-Colonel C.J.F. Pienaar, head of the Security Police in C p Tozn, the Imam complained about the middle of September about pain in his cn'.-. A doctor e-u-nined him and prescribed pills to be given to him when he had p i2.