THE PRISON BOARD RESPONDS TO THE LAMENT OF THE BROTHER
In response to the allegations made by Zaahir Ahmed which we published today, Maulana Khatieb of the Prison Board, explains (his comments are in red):
Assalaamu Alaikum Mufti Siraj – This was my response to Br Zaahir Ahmed when he called me.
Assalamualykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakaatu 27 Sept 2024
Respected Mufti Saab
This is a formal complaint which is a follow up to the call that I have made to your respected self and Maulana Khatieb.
After personally being in Polls Moor Prison for 9 days and speaking to prisoners who have served sentences ranging from 6 months to 12 years, I can safely conclude that their is absolutely nothing being done to see to the spiritual and even physical necessities of the prisoners.
The section (Section C) he was incarcerated in, is known as the section for the elders. It is unfortunately run by gangsters and the DCS officials hardly have control. My newly appointed Imam Ismail Abrahams, I have been training personally for the past 6 months, is actively there on a weekly basis.
One cannot find the basics of even a Quran or a tasbeeh which forms the basis of spiritual life,neither can one find halaal food,rather pork is being served day and night and prisoners are being withheld even the privilege of consuming uncontaminated bread.
Islamic literature is taken in on a weekly basis but disappears when the offenders are released daily, because it is only unsentence offenders in that Centre. Yes, the gangs confiscate the Halaal food, a problem, we address on a daily basis. The majority of offenders are Christians. It is out of our control. The food handlers are at the mercy of the gangs. You practically have to buy your food. DCS Security measures has been put in place, but after a day or two, its back to its old habits.
With regards to utensils they have a bucket of water to dip used utensils and serve inmates due to a shortage in those utensils therefore their is no escape from contamination with pork.
I inspected the Kitchen after receiving Br Zaheer’s call. There are not sufficient cooks in the Kitchen and the newly appointed head is doing his best to find trained Muslim Cooks. Muslim offenders do not want to work in the Kitchen because of the gang pressures. It’s a predominately Centre for unsentence/awaiting trial offenders +- 4000.
Some prisoners have even resorted to using knots on shoelaces to make zikr.
This is a brilliant idea, implemented by my previous Imam Abdullah Adams who passed on, may Allah Subgannallah grant him a high place in Jannah. There is always a need for Tasbih’s.
Many are searching for guidance yet their is no way for them to connect to Allah in the prison.
This is why the Muslim Prison Board is advocating for more Spiritual Care sessions and an extra SCWorker. This have been addressed with the DCS.
These conditions are not isolated,rather apart from this first-hand information, many other prisons across the country face the same type of delimmas. Yes, we are aware of this. In Cape Town we have 28 Centres, with Muslims at 20 Centres Algamdullillah. We are covering currently +- 17. Some are in remote areas and are difficult to reach, due to financial constraints.
When I contacted Maulana Khateeb I found him to be condescending and unable to take constructive criticism. Alhamdulillah the Brother spend 9 days in prison and I have been working their 34 years. Everyone who comes out of prison seems to be an expert, without knowing the efforts the NMPB SA we are putting in. Prisons are not an Islamic environment, yet we are changing it into Islamic institutions to cater for our Muslim offenders, having much DCS Islamic policies in place regarding Halaal, Ramadan and prayers.
I called maulana and allowed him to speak,I remained silent and gave him a hearing however when i realized he was misinformed and it was my turn to talk he began to talk over me and cut me off due to being defensive. I’d like to remind Moulana, that it is OK to be wrong, no one is paak, we acknowledge accept and move forward, bismillah. This is my understanding in islam. Your failures are our failures. Yes, I agree with this statement – Algamdullillah we can do more for our Muslim offenders if we had the finances and resources. Insha-Allah the brother can volunteer his time and I will train him to work in the prison.
What is sad is Muftisaahebs name is attatched to this whole operation which recieves so much funding yet is not carrying out its basic responsibilities. It seems as if muftisaaheb is totally unaware of what is happening on the ground. I think Mufti Siraj should answer this question.
Finally I’d like to say, Moulana was very quick to defend my statement when I said, ‘Cape Town is a failed society’, yet the prisons are filled with our people( every room of 48 inmates, atleast 18 to 24 are Muslim), even if they want to change, where are they to go? My answer to this – In Cape Town Muslims love Islam and we have NGO’s who prides themselves in serving Islam. Our grave yards are full of Muslim pioneers who have served their people.
Allah ta’ala forgive me for not looking at these people, inshaAllah
He had to put me inside for me to see first hand, Astagfurullah, we all need to repent, we have done the umaah a total injustice, verily Allah ta’ala will call everyone of us, into account.
We have plenty Madaris for these offenders to attend. May I highlight again that most of our offenders comes from abuse, dysfunctional, poverty stricken and unemployed families. We are trying to direct a chaotic situation and Allah Subgannallah is sending them to the prison, where we can guide them.
“It is great to see the wrongs and blame others, especially if we did not see to good that was done.”
ALLAH SUBGANNALLAH KNOWS BEST
7 Rabiuth Thaani 1446 – 11 October 2024