Cops Storm Mosque To Arrest Muslims Praying

This is the moment South African cops storm a mosque and arrest those inside for gathering to pray during the country’s coronavirus lockdown.

The startling scenes that caused anger online over the police officers behaviour were recorded in the village of Mbuzini in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa after cops found out a group of Muslims had gathered to pray.

In the video, the officers can be seen walking into the mosque and forcing those inside onto the floor.

Credit: CEN/@Abramjee

The officers shout “you think your president is crazy?” and one of those on the floor says he “tried to tell” the youngsters not to come, but the officers shout back that he is there with them.

The officers then tell the suspects they are under arrest for breaking COVID-19 regulations, with one cop saying: “Are you bigger than the president? Or is Muhammad bigger than the president?”

Local media report 24 arrests were made in the incident for allegedly contravening South Africa’s COVID-19 regulations from the Disaster Management Act.

The officers’ actions sparked outcry from South Africa’s Muslim community and the Council of Muslim Theologians, Jamiatul Ulama South Africa, condemned the officers’ “abusive tactics”, saying that the verbal abuse of the Prophet Mohammed, as well as cops entering the prayer room with their boots on, were “distressing to Muslims”.

Police Minister Bheki Cele apologised for any blasphemous remarks and said the case is currently under investigation from the South African Police Service.

National police spokesperson Vishnu Naidoo said the comments about the Prophet Mohammed are “unfortunate and unacceptable”.

He added: “The SAPS management has directed that this matter to be investigated and the person/s who uttered such comment/s about the prophet be identified and brought to book.”

It is unclear if those arrested have been charged.

According to the latest figures from the Johns Hopkins University, South Africa has suffered 4,793 cases of COVID-19 with 90 deaths.


To find out more about the author, editor or agency that supplied this story – please click below.
Story By: Alex CopeSub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News

The Ananova page is created by and dedicated to professional, independent freelance journalists. It is a place for us to showcase our work. When our news is sold to our media partners, we will include the link here.

GET THE NEW STORIE ON TIME!!!!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Signup to our Newsletter