Henry Mukasa and Agencies
28 August 2008
Kampala — THE National Security Council has decided that the two South Africans who were arrested last week over terrorism allegations be deported this morning.
"After investigations, the council established that the men are not good people and should leave the country," Army spokesman Maj. Paddy Ankunda said yesterday.
Mufti Hussain Bhayat of Lenasia and Haroon Saley of Azaadville were due to be put on a plane to take them back to South Africa at dawn.
Their arrest had sparked off anxiety among the Muslim community in South Africa and uncertainty among their families.
The Media Review Network (MRN), a Muslim monitoring group, this week appealed to the ruling Africa National Congress secretary-general, Gwede Mantashe, to find out why the two were arrested.
In a letter to Mantashe, MRN chairman Iqbal Jassat pointed out that no reason was given for their arrest.
The Muslim Judicial Council has expressed concerned that the two may be subjects of Islamophobic profiling in an international anti-terror crackdown.
"Both gentlemen represent a charitable organisation, The Crescent of Hope, and have been involved in relief work on the continent and at home for many years," Jassat wrote.
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