The Faizan-e-Bilal Mosque in central Johannesburg (Image: www.aa.com.tr)
Johannesburg, 11 Ramadan 1435/9 July 2014 (MINA) – Gunmen stormed the Faizan-e-Bilal Mosque in central Johannesburg late Friday, robbing nearly 200 worshippers at gunpoint.
“I was shocked because I did not expect to be robbed while praying in a mosque,” Kandulu told at the mosque. “This shows how dangerous our city has become.”
Maulana Aasim, the mosque’s imam, said he had been in the middle of performing his prayers when he heard noise and loud voices inside the mosque.
He continued praying until the voices became louder.
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“When I turned around, I saw armed men robbing worshippers,” Aasim told Anadolu quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.
“They told everyone to lie down. They searched everyone and took cellphones and money, but did not shoot at us, by the grace of Allah,” he added.
The robbers also broke into the donation box used to collect cash contributions for the mosque’s upkeep.
Rashid Ali, another worshipper, said he saw six armed men.
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“They looked unkind, but, Alhamdulillah [thank God], they didn’t harm us,” he told AA.
Police confirmed that a robbery had been reported and that investigations were currently underway.
Muslims account for roughly 2 percent of South Africa’s population of 52 million.
Despite their small population, Muslims are involved in all sectors of national activity, including the economy and politics.
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Islam is considered one of the fastest growing religions in South Africa, with hundreds of mosques, Islamic schools and colleges throughout the country. (T/P09/P04)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
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