Al-Qalam 
By Al-Qalam Reporter
Farhad Hoomer, who was previously charged with terrorism and later acquitted, says Hoorzook’s case fits into a larger pattern of harassment against Muslims in South Africa.
A former terror accused has come to the defence of Ziyadh Hoorzook, the Johannesburg man arrested earlier this month for allegedly funding terrorism activities through a Bitcoin transaction.
Farhad Hoomer, who was accused of terrorism in 2018 in connection with a series of bombs placed around Durban and a deadly mosque attack, has condemned the charges against Hoorzook as “ridiculous”. He says it’s a part of what he sees as a broader campaign targeting Muslims. Hoorzook, 37, was arrested at his Sandton home on January 3. He stands accused of purchasing Bitcoin worth R11,500 via Luno, a South African cryptocurrency exchange, and doing the transfer from his bank account. The transaction took place in 2017.
The Hawks allege that the funds were subsequently sent to an organisation linked to terrorism. Hoorzook maintains that he donated the money to Al Sadaqah, a Syrian charity and that the accusations against him are unfounded.
The Hawks claim that Al Sadaqah was investigated by US authorities for financing “al-Qaeda and affiliated foreign terror organisations through the use of cryptocurrency”.
Speaking out in support of Hoorzook, Hoomer criticised the timing and nature of the case.
“It’s such a stupid case. This happened in 2017 and you arrest the man now? If they’ve been watching him and knew about him from that time, why didn’t they arrest him a long time ago?” Hoomer questioned.
Hoomer’s own legal battles began in 2018, but the case against him and his co-accused was withdrawn. He argues that Hoorzook’s case fits into a larger pattern of harassment against Muslims in South Africa.
“Every Muslim gives charity every year. If I give charity to an organisation, I can’t be arrested for that. The state is doing this to Muslims only. Why don’t they do the same thing to Jewish people funding Israel? Israel is a terrorist organisation that’s been terrorizing people and killing people for years, and even South African companies are funding them, yet nobody has arrested them. This is a double standard,” said Hoomer.
Hoorzook faces serious charges after a lengthy investigation that began in May 2018. He is facing charges under the Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorist and Related Activities Act.
The investigation, led by the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) and the Hawks, uncovered what they described as suspicious transactions potentially tied to terror financing.
According to the Hawks, the funds were requested for activities involving weapons, financial aid, and assistance to participants in a foreign conflict zone.
Hoorzook remains in police custody and appeared before the Lichtenburg Magistrates Court yesterday for his bail judgment. However, the case could not proceed due to a power outage.
The State has opposed bail.
During previous court proceedings, his legal team criticised the state’s opposition to his release, describing the charges as lacking substance beyond their gravity.
“I’ve gone through great lengths to put forward an informative set of papers before this honourable court. I do so, as I am of the view that the state is mistaken in their allegations against me and have blown this matter out of proportion,” Hoorzook said in his affidavit as part of his bail application.
The court heard that Hoorzook had cooperated with the authorities since the allegations were first raised, hoping to demonstrate his respect for the criminal justice system.
Iqbal Jassat, Executive Director of the Media Review Network, said that Muslim social welfare and charity organisations such as Al Sadaqah and a host of others, whether based in Occupied Palestine or elsewhere, have since 9/11 been casualties of America’s unilateral sanctions, including being listed as “terrorist”.
“If South Africa’s safety and security cluster including the Hawks has any regard for the principled position adopted by Mandela when he renounced his earlier defence of America’s “War on Terror”, the least expected of them is to question whether the US listing of the Al Sadaqah organisation was subject to due process,” said Jassat.
He said by copying and pasting America’s faulty listing of Muslim NGOs as “terrorists”, the NPA would be providing authentication to a process that undermines the rule of law.
“Hoorzook should certainly not be facing jail time for discharging a virtuous act of Sadaqah, but the American government should be in the dock,” said Jassat.
The outcome of Hoorzook’s bail hearing is expected to be handed down next week.
