Cape Town - There is nothing “new” about the Open Mosque, says Sataar Parker, spokesman for Cape Town’s biggest mosque, Masjid Ul Quds in Athlone.
He was reacting to Open Mosque founder Taj Hargey’s statement that the new mosque in Lester Road, Wynberg, was the first in South Africa to be gender-equal, non-sectarian and inter-racial.
“There is nothing new about the so-called Open Mosque. We have been open for 25 years,” said Parker.
Hargey, a Cape Town-born Oxford academic, said the new mosque would invite women to lead prayers and welcome gay people and non-Muslims.
Parker said Masjid Ul Quds in Gatesville had women in leadership, was open to non-Muslims and had invited people from other faiths to address its Friday sermons.
“We are a non-aligned mosque and welcome everyone.”
Asked about gay people, Parker said: “We do not stop people at the door and ask them all these questions.
“We welcome everyone to God’s house. Whatever people do is between them and their own conscience,” he said.
Parker said Hargey’s criticism of the Muslim Judicial Council was “unfortunate”.
Hargey has faced severe criticism from local Muslims before the Open Mosque’s first prayers to be led on Friday.
News of his plan has unleashed a storm with some decrying its founder as a “heretic” and a “non-believer”.
The MJC could not be reached for comment.
Cape Times