Al-Qalam 
Police wrongfully arrested a respected Imam in Gqeberha, apparently for illegal possession of firearms, but charges were soon dropped, writes Nabeelah Shaikh.
A Muslim family in the Eastern Cape has been left severely traumatised after their home was violently raided by the police, who allegedly assaulted family members amidst claims that it was an Islamophobic attack.
An investigation has now been launched for misconduct by the SAPS.
The raid, which took place on Friday, September 13, was conducted by members of the SAPS’s National Intervention Unit and resulted in injuries to multiple family members.
The NIU members reportedly threw a Quran to the ground during the raid, sparking further outrage.
When one family member requested to perform his salah, an NIU member allegedly responded with the hateful slur, “F**k you and your prayers.” The Arington family, who reside in a quiet neighbourhood in Gqeberha, were subjected to the raid after police received information that illegal firearms were being kept at their home. The house is owned by Hafiz Aadil Arington, a respected local imam and Hifz teacher.
What followed, however, was an ordeal that has not only shaken the family but has sparked outrage within the broader Muslim community.
“The SAPS NIU entered the home by force, breaking in while the family was asleep, and the situation quickly escalated into a scene of chaos,” said Asghar Malabar, a spokesperson for the Arington family.
He said the NIU members told them they were searching for the imam’s son.
“They subjected the family to horrific treatment, including the physical assault of Hafiz Aadil’s wife, his 19-year-old daughter, and his eight and 13-year-old sons,” Malabar said. Malabar said it was particularly disturbing how the family’s children were treated.
“The youngest members of the household were not spared from harassment, despite the vulnerable health of the 13-year-old boy, who is a renal patient. The son had to go to the toilet, and they even barged into the toilet and took him out. It was so unwarranted. You would swear that a group of criminals broke into the house and hurt everyone they could in the house, but these were actually police members,” said Malabar.
Custody
During the raid, Hafiz Aadil Arington was arrested and held in police custody throughout the weekend.
“On Monday, the charges against him were dropped. They knew they got the wrong person,” said Malabar.
He said the psychological toll on the Arington family has been immense.
“The children are suffering from severe trauma. They intimidated the children quite badly, and we had to get social development involved. They acted with absolute impunity like they’re above the law, and this is unacceptable,” Malabar added.
Malabar said there was a need for unity within the Muslim community, describing the incident as part of a growing trend of Islamophobia.
“There is a scourge of Islamophobia that is creeping into our society, and we need to act against this. It’s something that has to be stopped now.”
The raid and treatment of the family are continuing to draw widespread condemnation from local community members and political leaders.
The outcry led to a meeting at a local mosque, where members of the Muslim community gathered to express solidarity with the Arington family.
Yusuf Cassim, a Member of the Provincial Legislature for the Democratic Alliance in Nelson Mandela Bay, has taken the lead in seeking justice for the family.
“The DA strongly condemns the actions of the NIU members. This is an unacceptable violation of the rights of ordinary citizens, and swift accountability is required. The trauma caused by this raid has left the family seeking medical attention for their physical and emotional injuries,” Cassim said.
Cassim has reported the incident to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), calling for an urgent investigation.
“In addition, I have also engaged with the chairperson of the parliamentary committee on police, Ian Cameron, to request oversight of this investigation. The NIU’s actions highlight a disturbing trend among certain elements of SAPS, where power is abused, and citizens are treated as enemies rather than the people they are sworn to protect,” said Cassim.
National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that the NIU had a search warrant when they raided the Arington home.
Mathe said police received intelligence on possible unlicensed firearms at the Arington residence, and they were following up on this.
“They found one unlicensed firearm, five replica firearms, and unlicensed ammunition,” she said. Mathe said that SAPS is investigating the alleged misconduct of the NIU officers.
“If they are found to have violated the police’s code of conduct, action will be taken,” Mathe said.
