The government fears al-Qaeda operatives may be hiding out in Muslim theological schools, known as Darul Ulooms. About 30 community leaders led by Moulana Ebrahim Bham of the Council of Muslim Theologians, met a government delegation led by the Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad to discuss the worries. News of this meeting last week comes after Sunday newspaper reports that the CIA believes South Africa is one of the countries where second-tier and other al-Qaeda bosses may be hiding. Pahad was flanked at the meeting by Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Aziz Pahad, Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils and Deputy Education Minister Enver Surty.
Some South African theological schools, also called madrassas, have experienced a sudden influx of students from Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Theological schools in these countries were shut down because of convincing evidence fears that they were a breeding-ground for extremists such as the Taliban, which first grew and flourished in parts of Pakistan. Meeting sources said Pahad had raised concern on behalf of foreign ambassadors to South Africa. He apparently used a jocular manner to ask the leaders: "Why are so many Malaysians coming to South Africa to study Islam?"
Gotta send the boy off to finishing school if you want him to explode succeed in life, everyone knows that. |
It is understood that organisations representing the Darul Ulooms defended their students, saying they had not broken any immigration laws.
| Which didn't answer the question about why they left Malaysia to study Islam in South Africa... |
Call of Islam spokesperson Adley Jacobs said the talks had provided a platform for discussion on "real issues of concern". He described a CIA report listing South Africa as a hiding-place for al-Qaeda operatives as "an exaggeration".
"We don't believe groups who fight imperialism and invasion should do it through terrorism. We condemn terror and the killing of innocents," he said.
| "Of course, we have yet to meet an innocent kaffir". |
| "... and the definition of terrorism's pretty fluid..." |
But Muslim Youth Movement president Naeem Jeena said the meeting "was an opportunity lost for real dialogue". "We expected a proper briefing on the two South Africans arrested and held in Pakistan." |