keeping you in contact with your community

SANAA PETERSEN

Five matriculants, all aged 18, of theOude Molen Technical High schoolin Pinelands were involved in a caraccident, while travelling home afterthey had finished writing their finalPhysical Science Chemistry exam onthe 16 November.Darren Hoffman and Roqeeb Isaacsdied instantly while classmates EzraMeisenheimer and Jason Kansleywere taken to Life Vincent PallottiHospital where they were treated for

minor injuries and discharged andMonique Odendaal was taken toGroote Schuur Hospital, where sheremains in a stable condition aftersuffering external injuries.Education MEC Donald Grant onbehalf of the school and EducationDepartment conveyed his condo-lences to Hoffman and Isaacs par-ents. The school has planned amemorial service for Hoffman andIsaacs, which was provisionally setfor Friday, November 27.Community Safety MEC Lennit Max

offered his condolences to the fami-lies and warned about the dangers ofspeeding and reckless driving. Maxechoed the sentiments of DeputyTransport Minister Jeremy Cronin,who warned young drivers keen to

celebrate the end of their exams."Young drivers must recognise thatthey don't have the necessary drivingexperience and skills to react swiftlyin an unexpected situation," Maxsaid.

Keeping you in contact with your community 27th EDITION NOVEMBER 2009 Dhul Hijja 1430

STAFF REPORTER

A Korean woman hasfinally passed herdriving theory test -at the 950th attempt.Cha Sa-soon, 68, hasbeen repeatedly try-ing to pass the multi-ple-choice examsince April 13, 2005.At a cost of morethan £6,000 in busfares and test fees,she has taken the testevery day apart fromweekends and holi-days. During thattime, Ms Cha hasbecome a localcelebrity, a Japanese

reality TV star and asymbol of undauntedspirit, reports TheTimes. Even afterintensive coaching,her results only bare-ly touched the 60%pass mark that hadeluded her for solong. But the green-grocer, of Jeonju,near Seoul, still hasto tackle and pass themore difficult practi-cal test before shecan drive. She toldher local newspapershe needs a drivinglicense for her busi-ness.

Woman passesdriving theorytest - at 950thattempt

What's New:The Community News (CNEWS) has trans-

formed into a Women, girls and youth engen-dered read. The CNEWS has dedicated pageswritten by young Muslims for young Muslims.

The 'junior reporters' have been selectedthrough the Youth Engineering the Future

(YEF) Trust. The CNEWS is committed to thejournalistic development of young Muslims.Each reporter undergoes a ten-mmonth Media

and Communications course capacitatingthem with skills in the print, radio, television

and digital media. Watch them grow!

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A South Yorkshire manclaims to be allergic to hiswife and says he comes outin a rash whenever he goesnear her.Darren Young, 45, is aller-gic to a component regular-ly used in common creamsand body lotions, reportsThe Sun. His heart ratesoars - and could even stop -and his body swells if hecomes into contact with thechemical, known as poly-ethylene glycol. Mr Young,a bus driver fromSprotbrough, says he cannotget close to his wife Sueunless she is free of allcreams. He said: "When it

comes to bedtime Sue does-n't need a headache as anexcuse. She just says shehas been using body lotionand it might kill me. "It'snot just Sue - I can get areaction if I go into a pub ora restaurant where a womanhas been sitting. The doc-tors don't really know whyit has suddenly happened."Mr Young discovered hisallergy when he was given asteroid injection containingpolyethylene glycol to treata problem with his foot. Hisface swelled up, he heartstopped and he had to beresuscitated. He now has tobe careful of what he touch-es and constantly carrymedication.

Man is allergicto wife

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TRAGEDY: Car that the five matriculants were driving in on the 16November 2009

Matriculants die in horror crash

PICTURES: Sourced

STAFF REPORTER

The Western Cape High Court hasruled a local woman married underIslamic law must be paid mainte-nance while her divorce is pending.According to the judgment handeddown earlier this month, Ishrat BanuHoosein wanted Rashid AhmedAboobaker Dangor to pay her main-tenance while proceedings to endtheir marriage were underway andthat Dangor opposed Hoosein'sattempts at trying to claim mainte-nance as she had lived in Klerksdorp,outside the Western Cape HighCourt's jurisdiction "when the pur-ported action for a divorce was insti-tuted".Although, the Divorce Act does notrecognise Muslim marriages, Muslim

spouses in the province may now useRule 43, one of the Uniform Rules ofCourt, which regulates court pro-ceedings and deals with the DivorceAct, which provides for a procedurewhere a spouse can apply for mainte-nance before a divorce is heard.Hoosein, prior to court proceedings,had also started action, againstDangor and the Justice andConstitutional DevelopmentMinister in an attempt to have hermarriage "according to the tenets ofIslamic personal law" declared validin terms of South African law.In a separate case, aPietermaritzburg Muslim mother,Ayesha Jacob, is also seeking to winan order for maintenance for her andthe couple's three children and anequitable division of the joint estate.

Jacob's 14-year marriage underIslamic rites to her husband, AbdulKader Amod Ayoob, has ended andshe has asked the court to find thatsince she and her husband did notconclude an ante-nuptial contract,their marriage is one in communityof property.Jacob is asking the court to rule that

the failure of the Divorce Act of1979 to include parties to a monoga-mous Muslim marriage is unconstitu-tional and discriminatory.Jacob is being supported in her legalbattle to assert her rights by theWomen's Legal Centre Trust (WLC)as an "amicus curiae" (friend of thecourt) - a Cape-based organisationthat aims to advance and protect thehuman rights of women and girls.In papers before Judge Jerome

Mnguni on 13 November, WLCdirector Jennifer Williams said thetrust submits that the Divorce Actshould be interpreted to include adivorce action between the parties toa monogamous Muslim marriage;and that the failure to includeMuslim marriages in the act willimpact negatively on a "particularlyvulnerable class of women" and vio-lates a number of constitutionalrights.The trial will get under way in thehigh court on May 10 next year.

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2 November 2009 - Dhul Hijja 1430

SANAA PETERSEN

Earlier this year the BeitulAmaan Frail Care inWynberg was threatenedwith closure due to insuffi-cient funds to care for itsseventy-one destitute elder-ly and frail residents. Owners of the Cosy CornerTake-Aways and Sabria'sRestaurant, Yusri andTasneem Hartley, alarmedat their plight, pledged R1from the sale of each gatsbyand burger towards BeitulAmaan. Their commitmentand support from patronsraised R15'000 in the firstthree months. 'If each busi-ness and neighbor helpseach other and share, we

could all grow and develop,especially in these tryingtimes, said, Yusri.On Tuesday, Yusri andTasneem invited the execu-tives and staff of BeitulAmaan to a buffet supper tohandover the cheque andalso to thank them for theircontinued selfless efforts incaring for the elderly.Naadir Agherdien, chairper-son of Beitul Amaan saidthat after overseeing to theneeds of the elderly andfrail, they have installed asecurity system and arehoping to raise monies tobuy the land next to thecentre to build cottages forthe elderly.

Local business helpsthe elderly

TThhee ffiirrsstt ppaasssseennggeerrss cchheecckkeedd-iinn aatt tthhee CCaappee TToowwnnIInntteerrnnaattiioonnaall aaiirrppoorrtt''ss nneewwcceennttrraall tteerrmmiinnaall bbuuiillddiinngg

The new central terminalbuilding (CTB) is a fivestorey building which com-bines the check-in processfor both international anddomestic passengers. TheR1.6 billion CTB has 120check-in counters, 20 selfservice check-in machinesand a consolidated securityscreening point covering anarea of 50 000m2. In addition to the enhancedcheck-in facilities, the retailfacility has almost doubled,moving from 44 retailers andrestaurants to 74. The CTBboasts a new R103 millionbaggage sortation systemthat operates 3000 bags perhour and is fully automatedas well as additional passen-ger loading bridges - a firstfor Domestic users.To facilitate vehicular move-ment at the airport, the roadnetwork is also undergoingan upgrade. The new drop offroad is now situated right infront of the terminal build-ing. The entire road networkproject will be completed inMarch 2010 at a cost of R120million.This does not mark the endof construction at the airport.

Other projects to be complet-ed in March 2010 include aconsolidated car rental facil-ity, transport plaza, multi-storey parkade and aircraftparking stands.

18 July is officiallyNelson MandelaInternational Day

The UN General Assemblydeclared July 18 'NelsonMandela International Day'to mark his contribution topeace. A resolution adopted by con-sensus by the 192-memberworld body calls for com-memorations every yearstarting in 2010 on July 18 -Mandela's birthday - torecognise the Nobel PeacePrize laureate's contributionto resolving conflicts andpromoting race relations,human rights and reconcilia-tion.By adopting the resolution,General Assembly PresidentAli Treki said the interna-tional community wasexpressing its appreciationfor "a great man" who suf-fered for the sake of peopleeverywhere.

ID officials fired -Government acts oversuicide

Two officials at theDepartment of Home Affairs

offices in Pinetown, whohave been held responsiblefor the death of a youth seek-ing an identity document,have been fired. MrS'khumbuzo Mhlongo, ofKwaNqetho near Hillcrest,KwaZulu-Natal, committedsuicide after repeated delaysby Home Affairs to issue himan ID. One of officialsallegedly also tore up MrMhlongo's documentsinstead of processing hisapplication for an ID inAugust. Mr Mhlongo, 22,who was desperately in needof an ID to get a full-timejob, gave up and took hisown life. He left a suicidenote in which he blamed theofficials for refusing to issuehim an ID. The officials werefired after an internal inves-tigation. It is alleged thatafter one official tore up MrMhlongo's documents,another demanded a R400bribe in order "to sort out theissue immediately".

Pakistan models defyTaliban with 1st fashionweek Pakistan's top designers andmodels are taking part in thecountry's first-ever fashionweek. The four-day fashionshows took place in Karachi,the country's largest andmost cosmopolitan city, in afive-star hotel just next doorto the American consulate.

Some women strode the cat-walk in vicious spikedbracelets and body armor.Others had their heads cov-ered, burqa-style, but withshoulders - and tattoos -exposed. Male models worelong, Islamic robes as wellas shorts and sequined T-shirts."This is our gesture of defi-ance to the Taliban," saidAyesha Tammy Haq, theCEO of Fashion PakistanWeek. "There is a terribleproblem of militancy andpolitical upheaval ... but thatdoesn't mean that the countryshuts down. That doesn'tmean that business comes toa halt."While the shows in Karachiresembled fashion weeks inother parts of the world,there were no foreigndesigners or buyers. Theorganizers decided not toinvite them given the precar-ious security situation.

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HELPING: Owners of Cosy Corner and Sabria’s Take Aways handovercheque to Beitul Amaan on 17 November. From (l-r) Owner TasneemHartley, Naadhir Agerdien – chairperson of Beitul Amaan and YusriHartley – owner of Cosy Corner and Sabria’s Restaurant



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The South AfricanNational Zakaah Fund(SANZAF) has beenadministering educationfunds for over 30 years.Their university bursaryprogramme has shown anaverage pass rate of 62%in the recent years and anoverall pass rate of 96%,proving the success oftheir commitment to edu-cation and empowerment.Bursary applications forvarious academic disci-plines namely,Accounting, Computer,Engineering, Meteorologyetc., can be easily down-loaded from the SANZAFwebsite -www.sanzaf.org.za. Thebest time to start applying

for bursaries are in themonth of June, but pleasecheck the applicationrequirements as somedeadlines are sooner.How to apply forBursaries The following criteria areapplicable to those whowish to qualify for SAN-ZAF bursaries: "You need to write a letterof application to SANZAFand submit two testimoni-als, letter of admission tostudy from the relevanteducational institution, astatement of fees, two IDphotos, the certified copyID document (or permit incase of refugees)."Your application forfinancial assistance must

be hand delivered, faxedor posted to SANZAF "You need to qualify as arecipient of Zakáh What happens afterSANZAF receives yourapplication?On receipt of your com-pleted bursary applicationyour documentation willbe duly processed bySANZAF's friendly bur-sary officers.Source- Aftonbladet

You will be contacted foran interview, where a casefile with the relevantinformation such as fami-ly composition, incomeand expenditure will beopened. For full applica-tion details below.

3November 2009 - Dhul Hijja 1430

381 Lower Main Road, Salt River Tel: 021 447 0297 e-mail:www.sanzaf.org.za

SANZAF Western Cape Head Office and Centre for Education & Skills Development

TThhee SSoouutthh AAffrriiccaann NNaattiioonnaall ZZaakkaaaahh FFuunndd ((SSAANNZZAAFF))

Need help in applying for Bursaries

NAZEEMA OMAR

Beads of cold sweat dripping down your blowdried fringe is not good. There is nothing left tochew at the tips of your fingers and your tummyflip-flops as if you have just met Michael Jackson.Your mind begins to look like a brand new bigscreen, totally blank! This is it! The final momenthas arrived. The difference between make-or-breakis what you have put in. What you put in is whatyou get out.You think about everyone routing for you. Family,friends, neighbours, the shopkeeper, aunty Lamawho sells the koeksusters on a Sunday, they wereall in matric and school with you this year.It wasn't easy you know, all the stress and hardwork. Just ask Boeta Shamiel who cut and paintedthe bundle of dole sticks for your Science project.You were both equally proud of the B+ you scored.Does this humungous load of expectation add toyour already back breaking burden? Do you fearletting them down? What about the anxiety allmatriculants feel about their names not appearingin the newspaper? What if you don't make it?Horror upon horror, what if they leave your nameout by mistake? Arhhhhh! People, Energy pills and drinks is not the answer!Sour worms won't help either!Blood, sweat and tears, hard work, hard work andmore hard work is your only salvation. If you wereone of those who missed all the family functionsand made all the sacrifices you or chose to partyinstead.But hey guys, all is not lost. The following advicemight still help you survive.

Step one: PLANIf you fail to plan, you plan to fail.Check you exam time table and plan your studytime table accordingly. Allocate more time to thedifficult subjects or those you might be strugglingwith. Allow for breaks or relaxation time. Coffeegrowers do not need you to boost their profit mar-gin in the final quarter of 2009. Keep a cool headand focus instead.

Recite the following duah before studying:Allahumma infa'nee bimaa 'allamta-nee wa'allimnii maa yanfa 'unee. Allahumma innee asaluka fahman-nabiy yeen wa ghifthal mursaleennal-muqarrabeen. Allahummaj-'al li saa-nee a-mir-an bi thikrika wa qalbee bi-ghash ya-tika.Innaka 'alaa ma-tahaa un qadeer wa anta ghasbunaa wa na'mal wakeel

Meaning:O Allah! Make useful for me what You taught meand teach me knowledge that will be useful to me.O Allah! I ask You for the understanding of the

prophets and the memory of the messenger, andthose nearest to You. O Allah! Make my tonguefull of Your remembrance, and my heart with con-sciousness of You. (O Allah!) You do whatever Youwish, and You are my Availer and Protector andthe best of aid.

Step two: GET HELPArrange for extra tuition if you need it or work outstudy sessions with buddies who would be of ben-efit. It is too late to book a physics session withNASA but there are excellent tutors you could helpyou through some final areas of concern.

Step three: FOCUS, MEMORIZEMake notes as you study. These images will beimprinted in your swelling brain. Focus. Make mind maps where the main ideas are high-lighted. Focus. Charles Dickens died a long timeago so do not try to revive him. The key to thismethod is to be brief and to the point for it towork.Memory games are the way to go. Memorize bymaking sentences of the first letters (acronyms).Memorize by making associations or drawings.Again, focus.And to think you laughed when your first teacherstaught you to rub your earlobes with the oppositehands by crossing your arms. I guess it neveroccurred to you that if you crossed your midlineyou would stimulate both sides of the brain. If youdid you would not have such a one track mindtoday.

Step 4: REVISERevise, revise, revise! Do not cram the nightbefore or you might feel like a bottle of All Goldtomato sauce. They cram thirty sicsh tomatoes intoa bottle, remember?The night before the exam is for chilling. Eat a wholesome meal and have healthy snacks anddrinks. This does not include Energy drinks andOkkah.Your biggest mistake would be to try to study until3 in the morning and still hope to feel as fresh as adaisy at 9am when you have to start writing. Make sure that you start each day with a healthybreakfast so that hunger pangs do not slow downyour already strained, drained brain.Finally pray. Pray as you havenever prayed before. Stay clamand stay focused. You can do it!Now wipe away that cold sweatas you take your seat and breathein and out slowly, making surethat you are taking in all the pos-itive energy around you. Clearyour mind and save your fringe.

EXAMS TIMERead all the questions before you choose the onesyou will answer. Read the full question thoroughlybefore you answer. Read it again. Now spew outthat mother load of information stored in yourbeautiful brain. If you come across a difficult question skip it andreturn to it later. Do not fret! Watch your time. Last one done is not a rotten egg.It might very well be the first one done is the rot-ten egg in this case! Grown ups generally speak fondly of their schooldays. Many often wish they could have it back. Weall know that is as impossible as Bush winning aNobel Peace prize. Enjoy every moment of it. Once it is gone you cannever get it back. You will only move on to bigger and more seriousthings in life. Don't be fooled though, you willmiss it. You will almost miss it as much as Jenmisses Brad. Good luck!

Duah before writing the exams:Allahumma innee qad is tow da'tukka maa 'allamta nee hi Fa rudda hu ilay ya 'inda ghaaja tee ilay-hi wa laa tun si nee hi Yaa rabbal 'aala meen.

O Allah I left as a trust with You that which, Youtaught me (memorized when studying), So pleasereturn it to me when I need it, and do not let mecause to forget it. O Lord of the world.

To realize the value of…1 year, ask a student who has failed a grade.1 month, ask a mom who has given birth to a pre-mature baby.1 week, ask the editor of a weekly paper.1 day, ask a daily labourer with a family to feed.1 hour, as a couple waiting to meet.1 minute, ask a person who has just missed thetrain.1 second, ask a person who has avoided an acci-dent.1 milli-second, ask a person who has won a silvermedal in the Olympics.

Good Luck and we making duah for your suc-cess, but you need to help us!

EExxaammiinnaattiioonnss,, aallmmoosstt ddoonnee....WWee kknnooww yyoouu ccaann ddoo iitt!!


SANAA PETERSEN

A Muslim man wanting tobuy skirting at a woodstore in Brackenfell wasasked to remove his fez asa pre condition of sale.Appalled at the request MrM Vallie approached theEquality Court on groundsof discrimination.According to the judg-ment, Vallie walked intoWoodways on 13 April2005 as he was looking forskirting boards and wasasked by the sales assis-tant to remove his fez.He asked her why sherequested him to do that,and she replied that "thisis a Christian company".The owner, Mrs Hearnsaid in the judgment that'she and her husband arecommitted Christians whobelieve in practising theirreligion in a manner whichpays full heed to theteachings of Jesus Christ,as recorded in the Bible.'She further states afterstudying the Islamic scrip-tures it became clear toher that 'Islam andChristianity are opposingbelief systems'.She further argued that the'fez worn by maleMuslims to cover theirheads just as the scarvesworn by female Muslims,is a religious expression oftheir faith, which to herembodies offensive reli-gious doctrines. She andher husband had consid-ered it incumbent uponthemselves to expresstheir Christian belief byrequesting any personwearing a fez or the head-gear to remove it whenentering their premises.'Western Cape High CourtJudge J Zondi ruled on the31 August 2009, thatVallie has been unfairlydiscriminated againstbased on religion andupheld the judgment andorder handed down by the

Equality Court on 1September 2005 in whichWoodways was found tohave unfairly discriminat-ed against Vallie withinthe meaning of thePromotion of Equality &Prevention of UnfairDiscrimination Act 4 of2000 ("the Act"). Thecourt ordered Woodways,

'1. to restrain from dis-criminating against peoplebelonging to the Muslimfaith;2. to pay the respondent anamount of R2 000-00 asdamages;3. to send a writtenunconditional apology tothe respondent within 14days of the date of judg-ment; and4. to pay respondent'scosts on a party and partyscale.'Judge Zondi reiterated aprevious ruling by JudgeLanga in the case of theHindu school girl wearinga nose ring. He had this tosay:'The traditional basis forinvalidating laws that pro-hibit the exercise of anobligatory religious prac-tice is that it confronts theadherents with a Hobson'schoice between obser-vance of their faith andadherence to the law.There is however more tothe protection of religiousand cultural practices thansaving believers from hardchoices. As stated above,religious and culturalpractices are protectedbecause they are central tohuman identity and henceto human dignity, which isin turn central to equality.Are voluntary practicesany less a part of a per-son's identity or do theyaffect human dignity anyless seriously because theyare not mandatory?"

Muslim man askedto remove his fez STAFF REPORTER

A man who stabbed apregnant Egyptianwoman to death in aGerman courtroom infront of her husband andthree-year-old son hasbeen sentenced to themaximum penalty of lifein jail. Alex Wiens, 28,stabbed Marwa el-Sherbini, who was wear-ing a hijab, at least 16times on July 1, in thesame courthouse in theeastern city of Dresdenwhere the trial tookplace.It all started on August21, 2008, when el-Sherbini walked onto aplayground onHopfgartenstrasse in Dresdenwith her son and asked AlexWiens if he could make roomfor her son on the swing. el-Sherbini was an attractivewoman wearing jeans and ablouse; her headscarf was theonly thing that identified heras a Muslim. Her son wantedto play on the swing, but bothswings were occupied byWiens and el-Sherbini, speak-ing in German, asked him ifhe would make room for herson on the swing.Wiens immediately beganswearing at el-Sherbini, call-ing her an "Islamist" and a"terrorist" who had no busi-ness being in Germany. Healso said that her son wouldgrow up to become a "terror-ist.""The defendant refused toaccept that he, as a German,should make room for a non-German," a witness who triedto calm Wiens down later toldthe court. "He said that 'thosepeople,' the Muslims, shouldnot be allowed to have chil-dren, because they wouldonly end up blowing upGermans."The string of insults contin-ued. el-Sherbini told Wiensthat it was a public play-ground and asked thebystanders if anyone had amobile phone she could use.

A woman handed her a phone,and the man who would latertestify in the murder trialcalled the police Wiens beganshouting at the woman whosephone was being used, askingher, in Russian, why she haddone it. "I'll give my mobilephone to whoever I want," thewoman replied in Russian."They're killing our soldiers,"W. shouted, "and you're kiss-ing their ass!"el-Sherbini filed a complaintagainst Wiens for verbalabuse. In October 2008, theDresden District Courtordered Wiens to pay a fine ofseven hundred and eighty

euros. He formally objectedto the order and wrote to thecourt, his German marked bymisspellings and grammaticalmistakes: "I simply am not

understanding since when isforbidden to tell truth in thisso-called 'constitutionalstate.' Everyone knows thatIslam is dangerous and crazyreligion, and that members ofIslamic religion describe oth-ers as 'non-Islamists' and mis-guided people who must beeither converted or destroyed.In light of all this it is easy tounderstand why I see them asenemies ... To tell you truth, Ialso want to say that theinsanity of the Islamists is notjust because of religion butmostly because of their raceitself ... I feel humiliated andunfairly treated by theGerman justice system."Wiens, who arrived inGermany from Perm in theUrals in 2003, reportedlystruggled with bouts ofdepression. "It is true that Iam hostile to foreigners butthat was not the motive,"Wiens said in a statementread by one of his lawyers onNovember 4. Prosecutors,including an Egyptian delega-tion from Cairo's LawyersSyndicate, have said that theman was driven "by a pro-nounced hatred of non-Europeans and Muslims."

Sherbini killer gets life

KILLER: Alex Wiens sentenced tolife imprisonment for killingMarwa el-Sherbini

HAPPY TIMES: Marwa el-Sherbini on her wedding day

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ALI ABUNIMAH

Anyone who rejects the two-statesolution, won't bring a one-statesolution. They will instead bring onewar, not one state. A bloody war withno end. -- Israeli President ShimonPeres, 7 November 2009.

One of the most commonly voicedobjections to a one-state solution forPalestine/Israel stems from the accu-rate observation that the vast majori-ty of Israeli Jews reject it, and fearbeing "swamped" by a Palestinianmajority. Across the political spec-trum, Israeli Jews insist on maintain-ing a separate Jewish-majority state.

But with the total collapse of theObama Administration's peaceefforts, and relentless Israeli colo-nization of the occupied West Bank,the reality is dawning rapidly that thetwo-state solution is no more than aslogan that has no chance of beingimplemented or altering the reality ofa de facto binational state inPalestine/Israel.

This places an obligation on all whocare about the future ofPalestine/Israel to seriously considerthe democratic alternatives. I havelong argued that the systems in post-apartheid South Africa (a unitarydemocratic state), and NorthernIreland (consociational democracy) -- offer hopeful, real-life models.

But does solid Israeli Jewish opposi-tion to a one-state solution mean thata peaceful one-state outcome is sounlikely that Palestinians should notpursue it, and should instead focusonly on "pragmatic" solutions thatwould be less fiercely resisted byIsraeli Jews?

The experience in South Africa sug-gests otherwise. In 1994, white-minority rule -- apartheid -- came toa peaceful, negotiated end, and wasreplaced (after a transitional periodof power-sharing) with a unitarydemocratic state with a one person,one vote system. Before this hap-pened, how likely did this outcomelook? Was there any significant con-stituency of whites prepared to con-template it, and what if the AfricanNational Congress (ANC) had onlyadvanced political solutions thatwhites told pollsters they wouldaccept?

Until close to the end of apartheid,the vast majority of whites, includingmany of the system's liberal critics,completely rejected a one person, onevote system, predicting that anyattempt to impose it would lead to abloodbath. As late as 1989, F.W. deKlerk, South Africa's last apartheidpresident, described a one person,one vote system as the "death knell"for South Africa.

A 1988 study by political scientistPierre Hugo documented the wide-spread fears among South Africanwhites that a transition to majorityrule would entail not only a loss ofpolitical power and socioeconomicstatus, but engendered "physicaldread" and fear of "violence, totalcollapse, expulsion and flight."Successive surveys showed that fourout of five whites thought that major-ity rule would threaten their "physi-cal safety." Such fears were frequent-ly heightened by common racisttropes of inherently savage and vio-lent Africans, but the departure ofmore than a million white colonsfrom Algeria and the airlifting of300,000 whites from Angola duringdecolonization set terrifying prece-dents ("Towards darkness and death:racial demonology in South Africa,"The Journal of Modern AfricanStudies, 26(4), 1988).

Throughout the 1980s, polls showedthat even as whites increasinglyunderstood that apartheid could notlast, only a small minority ever sup-ported majority rule and a one per-son, one vote system. In a March1986 survey, for example, 47 percentof whites said they would favor someform of "mixed-race" government,but 83 percent said they would optfor continued white domination ofthe government if they had the choice(Peter Goodspeed, "Afrikaners clingto their all-white dream," The

Toronto Star, 5 October 1986).

A 1990 nationwide survey ofAfrikaner whites (native speakers ofAfrikaans, as opposed to English, andwho traditionally formed the back-bone of the apartheid state), foundjust 2.2 percent were willing toaccept a "universal franchise withmajority rule" (Kate Manzo and PatMcGowan, "Afrikaner fears and thepolitics of despair: Understandingchange in South Africa,"International Studies Quarterly, 36,1992).

Perhaps an enlightened white elitewas able to lead the white masses tohigher ground? This was not the caseeither. A 1988 academic survey ofmore than 400 white politicians,business and media leaders, top civilservants, academics and clergy foundthat just 4.8 percent were prepared toaccept a unitary state with a universalvoting franchise and two-thirds con-sidered such an outcome "unaccept-able." According to Manzo andMcGowan, white elites reflected thesentiments and biases of the rest ofthe society and overwhelmingly con-sidered whites inherently more civi-lized and culturally superior to black

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UZAIR RAMJAM

On the 2-4 October, the Channel Four- Palestinian Film Festival, held atthe Joseph Stone Auditorium to cre-ate and propagate awareness for thestruggle of liberation in Palestineinvited me to attend a discussion withtwo Israelis who refused to serve inthe Israeli army and was thereforeimprisoned.Yuval Auron and Omer Goldman, twoguests from Israel had been exposedto the heinous crimes committed byIsrael through a trip to the WestBank. Once they had seen the conditionsIsrael had put the Palestinians under,they decided there and then thatIsrael had committed crimes againsthumanity. This was the beginning oftheir protests against Israel. They,however, assured us though that theywere lucky to have witnessed theseliving conditions before they wereasked to serve in the Israeli army. Itwidened their perception of theirenvironment and allowed them toquestion their society. .They said it is sometimes difficult fortheir families to understand, but theyhave their unwavering support. Theyhave encountered many threats, evenupon arriving in South Africa. WithinIsrael those with similar beliefs facemuch hostility and aggression. ButYuval said it is difficult to break theirsociety free because their govern-ment propagates that the world hatesthe Jewish people and the mediatransmits these claims. It is really difficult for youngsters torefuse to serve their three year periodin the Israeli army. One can refuseuntil the age of 39, but each time,

they send you to prison for three tonine months to try and break youdown and persuade you to join. Somehave gone to the extreme as to havingpsychiatric evaluation; to convinceIsrael that you are not fit to join thearmy. They also proclaim that theyare Orthodox Jews and to say war isagainst their beliefs.

Yuval Auron and Omer Goldman,however, feel it is imperative thatthey speak to the Jewish Communityof South Africa and try to make themunderstand the Israeli reality. Butthey find this difficult because thereare those Jewry who are not exposedto these views but both believe thereis hope. As an organization, they aimfor the progression with all religionsand work towards an understanding. One question that was asked was ifIsrael should have an army; theycould not comment on behalf of theirorganization, but Omer personal viewis no, because she is against war. Omer could also describe the Israeliprison in such detail. There would be30 girls to a prison cell and everyonehas to wear an American uniform.They would be forced to do pettyactivities such as cleaning a line ofchalk on the floor from 5 o'clock inthe morning to 11 o'clock at night.

From these 'Question and Answer'sessions; to the listener it seems as ifIsraelis are in a bubble and taughtthat the world hates them. Thus thepeople become afraid and then theirgovernment takes on a more tyranni-cal approach to politics. The govern-ment also propagates their fearthrough the media and education, andso the cycle continues.

One of the mostimportant phrasesthey had said wasthat it was impor-tant to understandwhere they camefrom. It seemedas if they havenot learnt fromtheir history andare repeating itover and over.

Shministim wasan organizationwhich began witha mere ten mem-bers; seven girlsand three boys.

They have decid-ed to have a jointstruggle with the Palestinians;marching to the separating walltogether and enduring the Israeliteargas and being taken to prison.

And in these prison cells, they wouldreceive letters from Palestiniansthanking them for their much neededhelp.

Another act of rebellion from theorganization against the illegal occu-pation was that they pasted a checkpoint in the middle of Tel-Aviv capi-tal, for people to feel how it is to bein West Bank or in the Gaza Strip.They would even go as far as toprotest by lying on the airstrip beforeaero planes would take off.

A last question that was asked waswhether Israelis and Palestinians

could live together; and theyanswered that with the Palestiniansthat they knew, then yes.

As a way forward, Yuval Auron andOmer Goldman would prefer a One-State solution and they felt that theIsraelis needed to be exposed muchmore to what is happening to thePalestinians in the Israelis back yard.They would want the internationalcommunity to boycott Israel academ-ically and economically and to allowShministim to have much more inter-nal support from within Israel

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SHARING: Young Israelis opposing the occupation in Palestine picture

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Saudi Arabia and theUnited States have dis-cussed prospects ofexpanding militarycooperation during astrategic meetingattended by PrinceKhaled bin Sultan,assistant minister ofdefense and aviation formilitary affairs, it wasannounced inNovember.The Saudi Press Agencysaid the two sidessigned an agreementfollowing a meeting ofthe Saudi-AmericanStrategic PlanningCommittee. PrinceKhaled and US DeputyDefense SecretaryMichele Flournoysigned the pact. "Themeeting reviewed mili-tary cooperation andways to realize the jointinterests of both coun-tries."


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The World Council ofChurches (WCC) has calledfor "resistance" againstIsrael's decision to expand itssettlements in east JerusalemAl-Quds. WCC declared that theexpansion of the Israeli set-tlements "may destroy anychance for peace", AFPreported. Secretary General ReverendSamuel Kobia called onorganizations related to theCouncil "to act with resolve,in concert ... to reverse thisdecision of the Israeli gov-ernment and the settlementprogram it represents." Israel on Wednesdayannounced that it will build900 new homes in eastJerusalem Al-Quds, which itoccupied in 1967. Expressing "great disappoint-ment", Kobia said the leadingcouncil of Christian and

Orthodox churches "stronglycondemns the decision ... toexpand the illegal Gilo settle-ment as we believe that thisdecision will hinder attemptsnow in process to restart thepeace negotiations." "If settlements continue toexpand and proliferate, theywill further complicate nego-tiations and may destroy anychance for peace" Kobia saidin a statement. The WCC brings together348 Protestant, Orthodox andAnglican churches represent-ing about 560 millionChristians in 110 countries.

– AFP

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BIRTHDAY: The Muslim Youth Movement (MYM) celebrated poetShabbir Banoobhai 60th birthday on the 25 October with thelaunch of 3 new books. The titles of his 3 new books: the mir-ror’s memory (reflective essays and thoughts); dark light – thespirits secret (a long poem on the presence of the Divine every-where, even in what is considered ‘darkness’); and lyrics in par-adise.

For a copy of his books please email: [email protected]

PICTURE: Raees Ismail



IN THE SPOTLIGHT

The Qur’baanThe ud’hiyah/qur’baan arethe animals that are slaugh-tered on the day of Eid andthe three days thereafterare called the days ofTashriq, to gain nearness toAllah. The qur’baan originat-ed when Allah commandedhis Prophet Ebrahim (as) in adream to sacrifice his onlyson Ismaeel (as). Father andson loved Allah and were

obedient to His commands.When Prophet Ebrahim (as) placed the knife on the neckof Ismaeel (as) and recitedthe name of Allah, it would-n’t cut. Prophet Ebrahim (as)tried repeatedly, he checkedthe sharpness of the knife,but it would not cut. ThenAllah said: O Ebrahim, youhave fulfilled the dream, youwill be rewarded tremen-dously for this unique andsupreme sacrifice, for you

are a true believer, an inti-mate friend of Allah, andthat was indeed a manifesttrial.

Duah to reciteafter the qurbaanO Allah! This sacrificial ani-mal is from You and is meantfor You. We beseech You toaccept if from us as you haveaccepted it from Your truefriend Ibraheem (as) and

from Your beloved ProphetMuhammad (saw). O Allah!Accept all our deeds offeredby us, for You are the All-hearing, the All-Knowing,and accept our repentancefor You are Oft-Returning,and make us of those underwhom rivers will flow in thedelighted gardens. Andpeace on the messengers.And all praise be to Allah,Lord of the worlds.

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Africans. Just more than half ofprominent whites were prepared toaccept "a federal state in whichpower is shared between white andnon-white groups and areas so that noone group dominates."During the 1980s, the white elec-torate in South Africa moved to theright, as Israel's Jewish electorate isdoing today. Support seeped from theNational Party, which had establishedformal apartheid in 1948, to the evenmore extreme Conservative Party.Yet, "on the issue of majority rule,"Hugo observed, "supporters of theNational Party and the ConservativeParty, as well as most white voters tothe 'left' of these organizations, ha[d]little quarrel with each other."The vast majority of whites, wrackedwith existential fears, were simplyunable to contemplate relinquishingeffective control, or at least a veto,over political decision-making inSouth Africa.Yet, the African National Congressinsisted firmly on a one person, onevote system with no white veto. Asthe township protests and strikes andinternational pressure mounted, TheEconomist observed in an extensive1986 survey of South Africa pub-lished on 1 February of that year, thatmany "enlightened" whites "stillfondly argue that a dramaticimprovement in the quality of blacklife may take the revolutionary stingout of the black townships -- and per-suade 'responsible' blacks, led by theemergent black middle class, toaccept some power-sharing formula."Schemes to stabilize the apartheidsystem abounded, and bear a strongresemblance to the current Israeligovernment's vision of "economicpeace" in which a collaborationistPalestinian Authority leadershipwould manage a still-subjugatedPalestinian population anesthetizedby consumer goods and shoppingmalls.Because of the staunch opposition ofwhites to a unitary democratic state,the ANC heard no shortage of advicefrom western liberals that it shouldseek a "realistic" political accommo-dation with the apartheid regime, andthat no amount of pressure couldforce whites to succumb to the ANC'spolitical demands. The ANC waswarned that insistence on majorityrule would force Afrikaners into the"laager" -- they would retreat into amilitarized garrison state and siegeeconomy, preferring death beforesurrender.Even the late Helen Suzman, one ofapartheid's fiercest liberal critics,predicted in 1987, as quoted byHugo, "The Zimbabwe conflict took15 years ... and cost 20,000 lives andI can assure you that the SouthAfrican transfer of power will take agood deal more than that, both intime and I am afraid lives."But as The Economist observed, theview that whites would prefer "col-lective suicide" was something of acaricature. The vast majority ofAfrikaners were "no longer bible-thumping boers." They were "part ofa spoilt, affluent suburban society,whose economic pain threshold mayprove to be rather low."The Economist concluded that ifwhites would only come so far volun-

tarily, then it was perfectly reason-able for the anti-apartheid movementto bring them the rest of the waythrough "coercion" in the form ofsanctions and other forms of pres-sure. "The quicker the white tribesubmits," the magazine wrote, "thebetter its chance of a bearable futurein a black-ruled South Africa."Ultimately, as we now know, thecombination of internal resistanceand international isolation did forcewhites to abandon political apartheidand accept majority rule. However, it

is important to note that the com-bined strength of the anti-apartheidmovement never seriously threatenedthe physical integrity of the whiteregime.Even after the massive townshipuprisings of 1985-86, the SouthAfrican regime was secure. "So farthere is no real physical threat towhite power," The Economist noted,"so far there is little threat to whitelives. ... The white state is mighty,and well-equipped. It has the capaci-ty to repress the township revolts farmore bloodily. The blacks have virtu-ally no urban or rural guerrilla capac-ity, practically no guns, few safehavens within South Africa or with-out."This balance never changed, and asimilar equation could be writtentoday about the relative power of amassively-armed -- and much moreruthless -- Israeli state, and lightlyarmed Palestinian resistance factions.What did change for South Africa,and what all the weapons in the worldwere not able to prevent, was thecomplete loss of legitimacy of theapartheid regime and its practices.Once this legitimacy was gone,whites lost the will to maintain a sys-tem that relied on repression and vio-lence and rendered them internation-al pariahs; they negotiated a way outand lived to tell the tale. It all hap-pened much more quickly and withconsiderably less violence than eventhe most optimistic predictions of thetime. But this outcome could nothave been predicted based on whatwhites said they were willing toaccept, and it would not haveoccurred had the ANC been guidedby opinion polls rather than the dem-ocratic principles of the FreedomCharter.Zionism -- as many Israelis openlyworry -- is suffering a similar, termi-nal loss of legitimacy as Israel is evermore isolated as a result of itsactions. Israel's self-image as a liber-

al "Jewish and democratic state" isproving impossible to maintainagainst the reality of a militarized,ultra-nationalist Jewish sectarian set-tler-colony that must carry out fre-quent and escalating massacres of"enemy" civilians (Lebanon and Gaza2006, Gaza 2009) in a losing effort tocheck the resistance of the region'sindigenous people. Zionism cannotbomb, kidnap, assassinate, expel,demolish, settle and lie its way tolegitimacy and acceptance.Already difficult to disguise, the loss

of legitimacy becomes impossible toconceal once Palestinians are ademographic majority ruled by aJewish minority. Israeli PrimeMinister Benjamin Netanyahu'sdemand that Palestinians recognizeIsrael's "right to exist as a Jewishstate" is in effect an acknowledge-ment of failure: without Palestinianconsent, something which is unlikelyever to be granted, the Zionist projectof a Jewish ethnocracy in Palestinehas grim long-term prospects.Similarly, South African whites typi-cally attempted to justify their oppo-sition to democracy, not in terms of adesire to preserve their privilege andpower, but using liberal argumentsabout protecting distinctive culturaldifferences. Hendrik Verwoerd Jr.,the son of assassinated PrimeMinister Hendrik Verwoerd,apartheid's founder, expressed theproblem in these terms in 1986, asreported by The Toronto Star, statingthat, "These two people, theAfrikaner and the black, are not capa-ble of becoming one nation. Our dif-ferences are unique, cultural anddeep. The only way a man can behappy, can live in peace, is reallywhen he is among his own people,when he shares cultural values."The younger Verwoerd was on thefar-right of South African politics,leading a quixotic effort to carve outa whites-only homeland in the heartof South Africa. But his reasoningsounds remarkably similar to liberalZionist defenses of the "two-statesolution" today. The Economist clari-fied the use of such language at thetime, stating that "One of the weirderproducts of apartheid is the cripplingof language in a maw of hypocrisy,euphemism and sociologese. You talkabout the Afrikaner 'right to self-determination' -- meaning power overeverybody else."Zionism's claim for "Jewish self-determination" amidst an intermixedpopulation, is in effect a demand to

preserve and legitimize a status quoin which Israeli Jews exercise powerin perpetuity. But there's little reasonto expect that Israeli Jews wouldabandon this quest voluntarily anymore than South African whites did.As in South Africa, coercion is neces-sary -- and the growing boycott,divestment and sanctions (BDS)movement is one of the most power-ful, nonviolent, legitimate andproven tools of coercion thatPalestinians possess. Israel's vulnera-bilities may be different from thoseof apartheid South Africa, but Israelis not invulnerable to pressure.Coercion is not enough, however; as Ihave long argued, and sought to do,Palestinians must also put forward apositive vision. Neither canPalestinians advocating a one-statesolution simply disregard the viewsof Israeli Jews. We must recognizethat the opposition of Israeli Jews toany solution that threatens theirpower and privilege stems from atleast two sources. One is irrational,racist fears of black and brownhordes (in this case, Arab Muslims)stoked by decades of colonial, racistdemonization. The other source --certainly heightened by the former --are normal human concerns aboutpersonal and family dislocation, lossof socioeconomic status and commu-nity security: change is scary.But change will come. Withoutindulging Israeli racism or preservingundue privilege, the legitimate con-cerns of ordinary Israeli Jews can beaddressed directly in any negotiatedtransition to ensure that the shift todemocracy is orderly, and essentialredistributive policies are carried outfairly. Inevitably, decolonization willcause some pain as Israeli Jews losepower and privilege, but there arefew reasons to believe it cannot be awell-managed process, or that thevast majority of Israeli Jews, likewhite South Africans, would not beprepared to make the adjustment forthe sake of a normality and legitima-cy they cannot have any other way.This is where the wealth of researchand real-life experience about thesuccesses, failures, difficulties andopportunities of managing such tran-sitions at the level of national andlocal politics, neighborhoods,schools and universities, workplaces,state institutions and policing,emerging from South Africa andNorthern Ireland, will be of enor-mous value.Every situation has unique features,and although there are patterns inhistory, it never repeats itself exactly.But what we can conclude fromstudying the pasts and presents ofothers is that Palestinians and Israelisare no less capable of writing them-selves a post-colonial future thatgives everyone a chance at a lifeworth living in a single, democraticstate.Co-founder of The ElectronicIntifada, Ali Abunimah is author ofOne Country: A Bold Proposal to Endthe Israeli-Palestinian Impasse.


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Israeli Jews and the one-sstate solution

PROTEST: March against the occupation in Palestine in Cape Town

PICTURES: Sanaa Petersen


The Islamic Center of Irvine in California termi-nated Sheikh Sadullah Khan's position as directorof religious affairs on Oct. 4. Asim Khan, an ICOI executive council member,announced the termination to the community atFriday Prayer on Oct. 9.The Board of Directors at the Center has declinedto comment on the specific reasons that led to theirdecision, other than to say Khan's contract was ter-minated due to misconduct. Reached via e-mail in his native South Africa,Khan also declined to comment on the issue. In addition to serving as the religious director ofICOI, Khan was the director of Muslim Affairs atthe University of Southern California, a lecturer atUCLA and Cal State-Dominguez Hills, and anadvisor for the UC-Irvine Interfaith Board and forthe Islamic Studies program at ClaremontGraduate University. Originally born and raised in South Africa, Khanmoved to the United States in 1998 to accept aninvitation by the Islamic Center of Southern

California to beinvolved with the academia and youth develop-ment.

Community response to Sheikh Sadullah termi-nation:

1. I've gone to ICOI a couple of times sincehis termination, and I have to say, to me it felt likethe life had been sucked out of the community.Mind you, Imam Zaid Shakir was there one ofthose days ... Regardless of what he may or maynot have done, this man had a tremendous impacton our community, on our youth, and to be person-al, on me. I learned so much from him and misshim dearly. 2. This guy was the pillar of pillars of ourcommunity3. Its gonna take some time for us to comeoutta this, but we're doing well4. His weekly classes were awesome. Ilearned a lot from him.

IICCOOII ffiirreess SShheeiikkhh SSaadduullllaahhKKhhaann ffoorr aalllleeggeedd mmiissccoonndduucctt

STAFF REPORTER

Cellphone rates to reduce nextyearStaff reporterCellphone rates will be reducedby 36 cents from early nextyear, Communications MinisterSiphiwe Nyanda announced onThursday. Speaking in theNational Assembly, he said the

new agreed reduced mobile ter-mination rates (MTR) by CellC, Vodacom, and MTN wouldbe 89 cents in peak times and 77cents off peak.Currently, subscribers paidR1.25 in peak times and 77cents off peak. The new rateswould come into effect onFebruary 1 for Vodacom andCell C, and March 1 for MTN,

Nyanda said.This would allowthe mobile operators and small,medium and micro enterprisesto re-align their business opera-tions accordingly."This... is put-ting money back in the pocketsof ordinary South Africans whoneed it more now than ever," hesaid.

CCeellllpphhoonnee rraatteess ttoo rreedduuccee nneexxtt yyeeaarrWORKING: The Muslim Judicial Council attended alunch host by the Cape Town Society for the Blind.On arriving MJC representatives, Sheikh EbrahiemGabriels, Moulana AK Allie and NabeweyaMalick, were led into a pitch black room and seat-ed at their table, they were then invited to enjoytheir lunch. After lunch the lights were switched on.Sheikh Ebrahim said, that he ‘never really under-stood the concept of trust, than today, when he hadto place his trust in another humanbeing for thebasics in life, retrospectively, maybe this is what theworld lacks, trust in his fellow brother.’ Malikechoed her gratitude to God for her sight, as shehad to feel her way through lunch. Moulana Alliepraised the competent waitress who ushered themto their seats and assisted to finding the crockery,pouring the juice and the simple tasks of eating.They were astounded to discover that their wait-ress, Magdelene was blind. Sedick Jordan of CTSociety for the Blind said that if the guests weretold beforehand that they were to be served bythe blind, they would not of placed their trust inthem always thinking that the blind or challengedare incapable, ‘Today, is a demonstration of theirabilities to perform in the workplace and that iswhat we want to do, we want to encouraged busi-nesses to support them.’



SPIEGEL ONLINE

With the world struggling tocome up with an agreementahead of December's ClimateChange Summit in Copenhagen,one important fact has beenoverlooked: Women are hit hard-est by the extreme weathershifts, according to a new UNreport.When seas rise, droughts hit andglaciers melt, it is women fromthe developing world who arelikely to come off worst, areport by the United NationsPopulation Fund (UNFPA) says. "Poor women in poor countriesare among the hardest hit by cli-mate change, even though theycontributed the least to it,"wrote UNFPA ExecutiveDirector Thoraya Ahmed Obaidin a press statement released onWednesday. Living in the most marginalizedareas and dependent on agricul-ture to survive, it is the poorwho are in the frontline of cli-mate change. Given that most ofthe 1.5 billion people living on$1 a day or less are women, they

are in the most vulnerable posi-tion, the report entitled 'TheState of World Population 2009'said. Until now, the pre-Copenhagendiscussions have stumbled overissues like which countriesshould shoulder most responsi-bility for climate change -- ascountries shy away from con-crete pledges to trim their green-house gas output and pumpmoney into renewable energysources. Despite waning hopes of a bind-ing agreement from the U.N.'sDec. 7 summit, the report'sauthors said it was time for arethink on how the internationalcommunity tackles the problem."The fight against climatechange is more likely to be suc-cessful if policies, programmesand treaties take into accountthe needs, rights and potential ofwomen," they wrote.Fundamental New Questions Family planning, reproductivehealthcare and gender relationsare all key elements of futureglobal agreements, the reportsaid, stressing that slower popu-

lation growth would, in turn, cutgreenhouse gas emissions. "[There] are fundamental ques-tions about how climate changewill affect women, men, boysand girls differently around theworld, and indeed withinnations, and how individualbehavior can undermine or con-tribute to the global effort tocool our warming world," Obaidsaid.Among its recommendationswere more investment in familyplanning and girls' schooling --which would reduce poverty andhave a positive climatic effectbecause more educated girls typ-ically go on to have smaller andhealthier families.In addition, women are morelikely than men to die in naturaldisasters, especially amongpoorer people. "With the possi-bility of a climate catastropheon the horizon, we cannot affordto relegate the world's 3.4 bil-lion women and girls to the roleof victim," Obaid said.

Climate change will impoverish women

TEXARKANA, Arkansas - Evangelist TonyAlamo was sentenced Friday to 175 years inprison for taking underage girls across state linesfor sex, effectively punishing him for the rest ofhis life for molesting children he took as "brides"in his ministry.During the hearing, some of Alamo's victims tes-tified about how their families were destroyedwhile the evangelist took over their lives.Alamo, 75, had been convicted in July on a 10-count federal indictment. U.S. District Judge

Harry F. Barnes said Alamo used his status asfather figure and pastor and threatened and threat-ened the girls with "the loss of their salvation."The evangelist will stay in Texarkana pending aJan. 13 hearing in which Barnes will decidewhether Alamo's victims will get restitution fromhim. After that hearing, Barnes said Alamo wouldgo to a federal prison that has hospital facilities.

- MSBC

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