'Islamophobic' letter from Christian school probed
Social cohesion activist Yusuf Abramjee has filed a complaint with the CRL against a school who sent a "hateful" newsletter in which it compares Christianity to Islam.
|||Johannesburg - The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities has received a complaint against a Joburg Christian school accused of Islamophobia.
The complaint to the organisation, which investigates and facilitates conflict resolutions of this nature, was filed by social cohesion activist and former Crime Line head Yusuf Abramjee.
The commission said on Thursday: “Your (Abramjee) matter has been referred to the legal officers for scrutiny.”
This comes after a letter was circulated to parents of pupils at The King’s School Linbro Park last week, in which it compares Christianity to Islam.
Much of the contents of the controversial letter have been regarded as “hateful and incorrect”.
Bob Fuller, head of student affairs at the upmarket private school, compares the two religions. He writes that the azan, which calls Muslims to prayer, can be heard from the school and makes him think of the difference between the two religions.
Fuller incorrectly refers to the azan as an “imam” and says: “As I listen, I can’t help but think of the vast difference between Muslim and Christian prayers. Muslims pray in the hope that it might earn them salvation, while Christians pray because we already have assurance of salvation.”
Fuller further writes: “Muslims pray at prescribed times according to a set ritual in the hope they will be heard, while Christians can pray anywhere at any time in any words we may choose, with the assurance that every word is heard because of our personal relationship with God.”
Fuller also writes that he is grateful for “the daily reminder to pray for Muslims to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and to intercede for Christian missionaries, some of whom I know personally, who are daily reaching out to Muslims, often at the risk of their lives”.
He ends the letter by incorrectly mentioning the dates of Ramadaan, which is the holy Islamic month.
Abramjee posted a screen shot of the letter to his 138 000 Twitter followers on Wednesday, saying he had written a letter to the school.
He also told The Star that he was calling for “the immediate withdrawal of the letter and an unreserved apology to the Muslim community and others who have been offended”.
He added: “Failing to retract and apologise unreservedly within 48 hours will force me to consider other options and reserve my rights.” Abramjee said the letter was Islamophobic and promoted racial hatred and intolerance.
Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi also responded to the letter on Twitter, posting: “I am still shaking in disbelief!”
The school said it had noted the concern and that a statement on the matter would be issued after a meeting on Monday by executives.
The Gauteng Education Department was not immediately available for comment.
karishma.dipa@inl.co.za
@Karishma_Dipa
The Star