‘Attempt to bomb mosque is an assault not only on Muslims but on all South Africans’ – SAMNET

The South African Muslim Network (SAMNET) is deeply concerned by the attempted bombing at the Musjidur Rahmaan Mosque in Durban North, Durban, South Africa, on the morning of Monday, 08 July 2024.

This is terrorism. That this heinous act of violence was averted by an alert security guard who observed two white males acting suspiciously at 2 am is a mercy of the Almighty. The South African Police have reported that commercial explosives were found at the scene along with other bomb-making equipment.

This attempt to terrorise is an assault not only on the Muslim community but on all South Africans, all faiths, and all people who value peace, tolerance, and unity.

Islamophobia and hate crimes targeting individuals based on their religion are increasing in South Africa and globally. It is reprehensible and has no place in our society. Such threats and attacks on innocent people are a direct affront to our shared humanity and the principles of freedom and respect that we hold dear.

The attempted bombing at the mosque is a stark reminder of the dangers posed by terrorism and extremism by those seeking to divide us through fear and violence.

This incident echoes the tragic attacks on mosques, synagogues, and churches in South Africa and around the world. Whether it is the Christchurch Mosque shootings and violent attacks in New Zealand, Canada, Europe, and India or on synagogues, churches and other places of worship, these acts of terror are unacceptable and must be unequivocally condemned.

The mosque targeted is not only a place of worship. It is a centre of learning for children, and this attempted terrorist bombing coincided with the return to after-school religious classes following school holidays.

The mosque has also served as a community centre for the greater Durban North Community, becoming the nerve centre and relief centre during the 2021 rioting and looting and as a vital community water source during the extended water outages.

SAMNET calls for unity among all South Africans in the face of these attempts to sow discord and hatred.

We also call for and support our law enforcement agencies and state security in their efforts to investigate this crime and bring the perpetrators to justice.

We urge anyone from the community with information about this incident to come forward and assist the police in their efforts to protect our communities.

There are understandable concerns about possible links or inspiration between this foiled attack and broader international conflicts, including the ongoing crisis in Gaza and Israel. We call on South Africans to be vigilant against any possible foreign agitation or actors who seek to destabilise our peaceful coexistence and exploit our diversity for their own agendas. 

Our history of fighting apartheid has shown us that even speaking out against injustice and crimes against humanity at home or abroad can lead to violent attacks. It has also taught South Africans to be strong, fearless, and truthful. Durban recently experienced an Islamophobic hate crime, which led to the stabbing of a family and the death of a mother, where the perpetrator publicly linked their attack to the ongoing war in Gaza. This must not be considered in isolation or a coincidence, and we call on our safety and security authorities to seek out those agitating for hate, not just those undertaking the terror.

South Africa’s diverse faith groups have a long history of living together in harmony, and we must not allow external forces to undermine this unity. We call for greater dialogue and programmes of engagement across our faith leaders to ensure the sanctity and safety of places of worship.

We call on our communities to unite and take reasonable measures to protect the public and exercise caution within reason.

We also ask the public to report Islamophobia and other hate crimes to the police and to add them to our register for tracking purposes.

Let us come together as a nation to reject violence and hatred in all its forms. By standing united, we can ensure that peace, tolerance, and respect prevail over division and terror.

Dr Faisal Suliman

SAMNET Chairperson