Police probe attack on Muslim teacher

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Published Feb 21, 2014

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Police are investigating an attack on an Islamic school teacher in Grassy Park earlier this week who was assaulted and thrown into the back of a van, where he was beaten.

The Surrey Estate teacher, who did not want to be named, teaches at Masjidul Ishraq and had left classes soon after 5pm to take a taxi home on Monday.

Police spokesman Andre Traut said three men were sought in connection with the incident. “The victim opened a case of abduction and assault,” Traut said.

The chairman of the Lotus River Islamic Educational Trust Society, Binyameen Ismail, said the teacher told him he was not only assaulted, but ridiculed for being a Muslim.

Ismail said the teacher was walking down 4th Avenue towards the Lake Road taxi rank when three men in a blue van stopped and insulted him.

“The men told him to make blasphemous remarks, which he refused to do. The men then flung a glass bottle, hitting him on the head, and one of them jumped out of the vehicle and accosted him.

“The teacher defended himself and punched the one attacker. However, a second… grabbed him and attacked him. They forced him into the van and drove away.”

While driving to neighbouring Zeekoevlei, they continued to kick him, beat him and verbally abuse him, Ismail said.

After 30 minutes he was thrown out of the van in Zeekoevlei.

The teacher was concussed and had injuries to his stomach.

Ismail appealed to parents to make proper transport arrangements to and from all Islamic learning centres for pupils, and asked community members to report suspicious behaviour to the police.

“The men appeared to be in their thirties. They were driving in a dark blue van, slightly rusted.

“The only other thing he could recall was a CY registration. But a full report has been given to the police, who are handling the case,” he said.

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