Protestors demanded that illegal immigrants leave a mosque in Pietermaritzburg
THE United Ulama Council of South Africa (UUCSA) has written to acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia, expressing concerns about the SAPS immigration enforcement operations taking place in and around mosques.
This, after tensions flared in Chatsworth, Pietermaritzburg and Johannesburg, after protesters allegedly attempted to force their way into mosques, claiming they wanted to remove worshippers they believed were undocumented foreign nationals.
The council’s secretary general, Yusuf Patel, said while they reaffirmed their support for enforcing the country’s laws, places of worship should not become focal points for immigration operations.
“The council warns that such actions create fear among worshippers, undermine the sanctity of mosques, and risk damaging trust between Muslim communities and law enforcement.
