The Imam Haron inquest is a major step forward towards justice

WHEN the Minister of Justice, Ronald Lamola, in May 2022 issued a central government request to the Judge President of the Western Cape Division of the High Court to formally open a new inquest into the death in detention of Imam Abdullah Haron, it signalled the continuation and start of a number of important processes. The inquest, which has been comprehensively covered on our website, recognises that the 1970 inquest by the apartheid government into Imam Haron’s death was an insult to his life, struggle and death. There are other dimensions of importance to think about but the fact of the new inquest means that a gross injustice, namely the death in detention of the Imam and the further injustice of the farcical ‘inquest findings’ of the

1970 apartheid inquest can be revisited and investigated. This is a victory in itself, as it means that the circumstances of the death of the Imam will no longer be available to us only through the legal words and judgements of the criminal apartheid government. The apartheid government itself, in a sense, is under investigation in this matter before the court. This is very important. Evidence will be heard, and findings will come from a court of a democratically elected government. While the performance of the democratic government leaves much to be desired, the inquest must be celebrated as a necessary break from the travesty of justice that occurred with Imam Haron’s death and the inquest that followed. This inquest offers the hope that we can come closer, via the legal system, to the truth of what happened. The inquest process is a legal process, with evidence that will be presented, tested and evaluated. It can be a frustrating process. Accompanying the legal process is the human aspect. The Imam died on September 27, 1969, and was buried on September 29. The passing of more than fifty years is a long time. The Imam’s widow, Galiema (nee Sadan), now sadly departed, and her children, were left to deal with the trauma of a husband lost, and a father who could no longer be there for his daughters and son. This loss is a crime itself, as it robbed Imam’s beloved wife, and her children, of the love and companionship of someone they loved dearly. This must not be forgotten. How they coped, and how they built their lives in the shadow of this great pain, must never be forgotten. This pain returned during this process. Feelings and memories surfaced and re-surfaced during the court sessions, and during the quiet hours. This is traumatic, and we owe the family continued support in every way we can. Those who supported the family during those dark days in the late 1960s will be rewarded. Those who abandoned the family will need to use this inquest to ask very disturbing questions about themselves. It is never too late to ask for forgiveness. For South Africa, and its many victims of apartheid, known and unknown, the new inquest into the death in detention of Imam Haron is a moment that says that the past is not forgotten, and the wheels of justice are turning.

Our editorial comment represents the composite viewpoint of the Editorial Team of Muslim Views, and is the institutional voice of the newspaper. Correspondence can be sent to editor@muslimviews.co.za