Lawyer calls on Ramaphosa to allow Eid prayers in congregation, with precautionary measures in place14/5/2020
With just over a week left until the Muslim festival of Eid-al-Fitr is celebrated in South Africa and across the globe, a Durban-based lawyer has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa and Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to allow Eid prayers in congregation during the coronavirus lockdown, with precautionary measures put in place.
Religious, cultural and social gatherings are currently prohibited under Level 4 regulations. This is in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
In a letter to the President Ramaphosa and the Minister of Cooperative Governance Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, attorney Bilal Malani says that South Africans have dedicated themselves to the fight against Covid-19, "but we have recognised and created certain exceptions in the form of exemptions to the procedure forged for such fight."
He said that attending funerals, moving house, shopping in malls, exercising between the hours of 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. daily are some examples of such exemptions.
"Should we not recognise the religious practices described below, as exceptions and create certain exemptions to give effect to such exceptions? The exceptions and resultant exemptions will not infringe Covid-19 regulations but will foster our claim to belief in God." Malani believes that the current lockdown regulations "have denied our people their right to practise their religion." This, he says, may only be done "to the extent absolutely necessary." "We should recognise as an exception, deserving of an exemption, the religious practises attendant upon the religious observance of certain “holy” days, inter alia, Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha [and] Juma Salaat for Muslims, Christmas, etc. for Christians, Deepavali, etc. for Hindus, Rosh Hashana, etc. for Jews." Malani says that during such observances, precautionary measures of social distancing, the use of masks and hand santisers would be adopted should an exemption be granted. "It is in this context that application is hereby made for Muslims to be allowed to observe the Eid-ul-Fitr prayer, which marks the end of Ramadaan, in congregation, on or about 24th May 2020 from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., at Mosques or at “open air” venues, subject strictly to the precautionary measures described above."
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AuthorZahid Jadwat is a South African writer, columnist, podcaster and radio show host. Archives
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