Cii News – Pic (Muhammad Fayaz Kazi – April 2012) -  August 10, 2012

Police, on Friday, were on the trail of a a 33-year-old Rustenburg mine employee wanted in connection with the assault and subsequent death of Ventersdorp resident, Muhammad Fayaz Kazi. However, all attempts to reach the suspect and bring him into police custody have thus far failed.

Kazi (27) was traveling to his home in Ventersdorp on Monday accompanied by his uncle, Anser Mahmood (33), when they stopped at a Chicken Licken food outlet in Magaliesburg .

A fight allegedly broke out after two Afrikaner men reportedly mocked Kazi about his Islamic appearance. Kazi sustained traumatic brain injuries leading to his death on Tuesday morning.

Brigadier Neville Malila, the Gauteng police spokesperson, told Cii that officers have been hard at work trying to track down the first suspect. “Investigators went out yesterday [Thursday] and through the night they were looking for one of the suspects. Thus far the suspect has not been located.”

Meanwhile, Thandi Modise, the North West Premier has condemned the killing of Kazi.

Modise called on police to ensure those responsible for his death, are arrested.

“There is no place in our diverse society for those who harbour racism and religious intolerance,” she said in a statement.

According to the premier, the attack was both racist and Islamophobic. She called on residents to help the police in their investigation and to exercise restraint.

Kazi’s father-in-law, Hashimbhai Motara, told Cii that the family was devastated by the loss of the young man.

Struggling to hold back tears he said, “I felt like he was part of me, he was my blood. And now we have lost him and we will miss him. But Allah knows best and Allah’s decision we respect.”

He also appealed for people not to take the law into their own hands. “We must now do the right thing. As individuals and groups, demand absolute justice. Ensure that the country’s system does not show laxity on this matter. Monitor the progress registered by the SAPS and trust that the perpetrators are given the correct punitive action.”

Witnesses and one possible suspect identified in Fayaz Kazi killing

Cii News/Sapa, Pic; Cii News (Anser Mahmood shows his injuries) -  August 9, 2012

Gauteng police authorities have prioritised the investigation into the death of Muhammad Fayaz Kazi who died after being beaten in an alleged Islamophobic incident in Magaliesburg on Monday. Several witnesses and a possible suspect have already been identified.

Kazi was traveling to his home in Ventersdorp with his uncle, Anser Mahmood, when they stopped to buy some food at the Magaliesburg Chicken Licken.

A fight allegedly broke out after two Afrikaner men reportedly mocked Kazi about his Islamic appearance.

Yesterday, Mahmood visited the Magaliesburg police station and laid a complaint of assault.

The Magaliesburg station commander also engaged with police in the North West province where the murder case was first registered.

Brigadier Neville Malila, the Gauteng police spokesperson, said that this report would be transferred to Magaliesburg where both the murder and the assault with grievous bodily harm charges would be investigated.

Malila added that they were following up on several leads. “The branch commander has started with the initial investigation and possible witnesses have been identified and today [Thursday] they will get some of the witness statements. That will ultimately lead to the arrest of the suspects. A possible suspect has also been identified during the course of the initial investigation.”

Although the investigation was taken up by the Magaliesburg branch commander it will be overseen by Gauteng provincial investigators. “We as the province take the incident that happened very seriously. We have assigned senior offices to oversee and assist in this investigation,” said Malila.

Meanwhile Ronnie Kasrils, the former Minister of Intelligence in South Africa, described the incident as “savage” and one carrying the “the stench of Islamophobia”.

“My heartfelt condolences and solidarity to the family of Fayaaz Kazi whose brutal killers must be hunted down and brought to justice,” the African National Congress stalwart said in a statement.

“My deepest wishes and speedy recovery to uncle Ansaar Mahmood who was savagely injured in this criminal attack which carries with it the stench of Islamophobia,” he added.

“May all South Africans unite to stop in its tracks the evil of racist and religious intolerance which is a threat to every South African regardless of creed, culture and colour,” Kasrils said.

The Media Review Network, a Muslim advocacy group on human rights, called on Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa to ensure a speedy investigation was undertaken.

Researcher Ibrahim Vawda said there was widespread anger across the Muslim community.

“We strongly urge all members of our community to exercise restraint and patience and to allow the normal process of the law to take its course.”

The Jamiatul Ulama South Africa (Council of Muslim Theologians), based in Johannesburg, called the incident a hate crime allegedly perpetrated by members of society who are failing to embrace change and harmony.

They called upon relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate the circumstances of the incident and arrest and prosecute the suspects to the full extent of the law.

SAPS cooperate in Kazi murder investigations

Cii News- August 8, 2012

Investigations have begun in the case of Ansar Mahmoud, 33, and his nephew Mohammed Fayaz Kazi, 27, who were allegedly brutally assaulted by 2 Afrikaans speaking men in Magaliesburg.

Community leaders Zaahid Asmal and Iqbaal Jasat were at the Magaliesburg police station with Mahmoud and family members.

Cii News reported that  27-year-old Muhammad Fayaaz Kazi and his 33-year-old uncle, Anser Mahmood were en route to Ventersdorp on Monday when they stopped in Magaliesberg to get some food for their iftar, the fast breaking evening meal.

After purchasing some food from a fast food outlet an argument allegedly broke out between Kazi and unknown Afrikaner males.

Kazi passed away as result of the attack early on Tuesday morning.

Reporting from Magaliesburg police station, Cii reporter Azhar Vadi said there are two matters that have come to the fore from this incident.

“One is the case of assault and subsequent murder of Kazi and the second is that of police on the scene who may have not followed procedure,” he said.

SAPS officials were very cooperative, Vadi said, adding that investigators outside the Magaliesburg police have been appointed to the case.

“Police top brass, Brigadier Neville Malila from Gauteng arrived at the scene and is in talks with the family,” he said.

Police at this stage have many leads including a car registration number taken by a security guard on the scene.

Meanwhile Zaahid Asmal has been appointed as the family spokesperson and has called on Muslims to maintain calm and allow police to do their work.

“There is great cooperation with the South African Polce Services from provincial and national level- we are working with them,” he said.

He cautioned the community regarding twitter and facebook posts as anything injudicious may affect the case.

Muslim man dead after defending the Sunnah beard

Cii News – August 7, 2012

A young Muslim resident of Ventersdorp in the North West Province died early on Tuesday morning after an alleged fight broke out in Magaliesburg when he was mocked for adorning his face with a sunnah beard.

27-year-old Muhammad Fayaaz Kazi and his 33-year-old uncle, Anser Mahmood were en route to Ventersdorp yesterday when they stopped off in Magaliesburg to get some food for their iftar, the fast breaking evening meal. After purchasing some food from a fast food outlet an argument allegedly broke out between Kazi and unknown Afrikaner males.

“It was a white Afrikaner,” Mahmood told Cii News. “I asked him (Kazi) what happened. He said they are making fun of my beard.” Muslim men are encouraged to grow a fist length beard emulating the Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Mahmood continued, “I shouted at them. I said why are you troubling my nephew? From there, problems started. They wanted to hit me. We were one on one. At that time they weren’t hitting Fayaaz. So the guy from the Chicken Licken, he kicked us out. When I was out, I was holding a brick. So he didn’t want to come out. Then suddenly, I don’t know where the third person he came out. He hit me on my side face. So I fall down. When I fall down then they went to Muhammad Fayaaz, then I don’t remember [sic].”

Upon gaining consciousness, police arrived at the scene and the two were directed to the Magaliesburg police station but apparently no case was opened. “I didn’t want to open a case. I said I will come back to this place alone,” said Mahmood.

“But Muhammad Fayaaz said he wanted to open a case. The police said we can go to the station on that road and they will come there with these people. Fayaaz said, no, (what) if these people go away? They (the police) said, no, we know them. Then we went to the police station and Muhammad Fayaaz said, no, I want to go home [sic].”

They then rushed to Ventersdorp and along the way Fayaaz’s condition deteriorated. According to Mahmood, he vomited twice and lost control. Fayaaz was then admitted for medical treatment in Ventersdorp where his situation became worse. Doctors thereafter suggested a transfer to a medical facility in Potchefstroom. A medical source working with the case told Cii that Fayaaz suffered from a subdural haematoma, also known as a subdural haemorrhage (SDH), which is a form of traumatic brain injury.

His body became stiff and his eyes dilated before a decision was made for him to be transferred to Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital in Johannesburg. Here he was refused admittance as he was already classified as brain dead. Further attempts to admit him to a private medical centre also failed. He was then transferred back to Potchefstroom where he passed away at 5am.

Mahmood said they planned to open a formal case on Tuesday afternoon. The South African Police Services in Magaliesburg could not comment.

Moulana Shabbier Saloojee, the principal of Darul Uloom Zakarriyah, one of South Africa’s leading Islamic seminaries described the death of Fayaaz as that of a shaheed or martyr. “We know that it is very important for us to uphold every sunnat (practice) of Muhammad (peace be upon him) and unfortunately sometimes we meet different challenges in upholding it.”

He added, “Tonight we have the mayyit (funeral) of this shaheed in this blessed month of Ramadan for the sake of the beard of Rasullulah (peace be upon him)…The Noble Quran also tells us with regards to the martyrs that, Bal Ahyah, they are alive in the court of Allah Ta’ala and this this is just a crossing from this world into the next world.”

The Janazah of Muhammad Fayaaz Kazi, the brother of Muhammad Nouman Kazi and Muhammad Farhaan Kazi of Ventersdorp will leave from Darul Uloom Zakariyyah at 9pm to the Avalon Cemetery.

May Allah grant the Marhoom Jannatul Firdose. Ameen.