Abramjee asks SA locals not to go to Syria

A leading social cohesion advocate, activist and member of the Muslim community has called on locals not to travel to Syria and other conflict regions to join in the wars.

Yusuf Abramjee was addressing more than 200 women at a fundraising breakfast in Fairlands, Port Elizabeth, yesterday.

He said news emerged last week that two young men from South Africa were killed in the Syria conflict. They apparently had joined rebel groups. Abramjee said the one victim was from Port Elizabeth and the other from Durban. Both were in their 20s.

“We as South Africans have no business to go and fight abroad. Our laws prohibit it also. I am happy many Muslim leaders agree it is not ‘jihad’ [in Syria],” Abramjee said.

He called on South African youth not to be indoctrinated.

“Let’s rather focus our energies and efforts on humanitarian needs and make a difference by assisting the victims of the war.”

Abramjee said the #SAveSyria initiative by #OperationSA had raised almost R14 million in nearly two months.

The donations were distributed to seven charities.

“You are correctly focusing on the educational needs of the refugee children,” Abramjee told the audience. “People from across religious and cultural backgrounds donated towards #SAveSyria.

“This is ubuntu,” he said.