Ariadne Massa
Imam condemns 'evil' racism
Sudanese community stay away from friend's funeral
Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
The Imam yesterday urged the authorities and the Church to raise their voices against "evil" racism and to mete out appropriate punishments against those who committed racially motivated crimes.
Imam Mohammed El Saadi said too often the sentence handed down against racial aggression was "too light", which sent the wrong message to the perpetrator.
"Racism is a protest against the will of God," he said, during the short funeral service of Sudanese immigrant Suleiman Ismail Abubaker at the mosque in Corradino.
Mr Abubaker died on June 9, 11 days after suffering a fractured skull and lung contusion; injuries he sustained during a brawl in Paceville on May 29.
Witnesses have told a court Mr Abubaker was punched as he tried to enter a club drunk and later kicked by an unidentified person. Nightclub bouncer Duncan Deguara, 29, has since been charged with causing serious injury, followed by death.
Stills produced in court from CCTV cameras that captured the commotion were not clear enough for investigators to establish precisely what happened.
In his sermon, Imam El Saadi condemned the "racist aggression against Abubaker" and said racism was "unjust, immoral and inhuman".
He made an appeal for the world not to be divided in black or white, rich or poor but to live together in peace.
While urging the Maltese to show more sympathy towards immigrants, he urged the Muslim community to be law-abiding and to steer clear from practices or places that "contradict our faith".
As the Imam prayed on the coffin of Mr Abubaker, which was laid on the thick carpet lining the mosque's floor, some 20 mourners, mostly Maltese, stood sparsely with their head bowed.
Mr Abubaker's Sudanese friends were conspicuously absent from the funeral, a sign of solidarity with the deceased's brother who was stuck in Tripoli.
The hundreds who attended a peace walk held last Saturday following Mr Abubaker's death were expected to turn up for the service but there were none of his Sudanese friends to carry the coffin from the hearse to the mosque.
The funeral was initially scheduled for last Friday but was postponed to give his brother time to fly in. However, sources said Mr Abubaker's brother appeared to have had problems obtaining a travel visa and nobody knew if or when he would reach Malta.
"The organisers felt the funeral couldn't be put off any longer. On the other hand, Abubaker's friends believed they would be accomplices if they attended - their culture encourages them to show respect to the brother, who did not want Abubaker to be buried without him," the sources said.
Mr Abubaker, who died alone in a hospital bed because the Sudanese community at the Marsa open centre was not informed their friend was in a coma, was practically buried alone.
Despite the lonely journey into the next world, his death has sparked a heated debate.
Fr Mark Montebello said Mr Abubaker's simple ritual signalled the funeral of Malta's age of innocence. "Malta has blood on its hands. It is the culture of oppression and intolerance that led to Abubaker's death," he said, as the immigrant's shrouded body was being lifted from the coffin and laid to rest in the mosque's cemetery.
The handful of friends, who walked through the dry soil behind the coffin, described Mr Abubaker as full of life, a man who was no saint but was neither violent; a level-headed person and a go-getter.
"He really wanted to integrate in both work and entertainment. He was not a Muslim fundamentalist or a man who wanted to push his religion on others. On the contrary, he tried to adapt to our culture," Michael Grech, a teacher who knew Mr Abubaker, said.
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C.McElhatton
Jun 19th 2009, 09:24
Isn't it spectacular how eager all concerned were to make a political statement out of this matter? First of all let me be quite clear, I am Maltese and I don't condone Illegal immigration but on the otherhand I also don't condone individuals who take on the role of firebrands inciting the masses one way or the other (and this goes to all sides and all those concerned). human actions are indeed open to interpretation and moreoften than not we tend to read events through our own set of beliefs and values. The Abubaker incident should be indeed simple to read, there was an intercalation that got out of hand, someone died and he should not have. No death should ever be justified or condoned by any decent human being worth of that name. What really came through in this case was the fact that bouncers had to do the job of law enforcers (and things got out of hand), that Paceville has become so progressively unruly that people die in its streets. This is how I interprete this event....and we close our eyes and see what we want to see and hear what we want to hear.
Chris Mifsud
Jun 19th 2009, 08:44
@R Callus
He WAS here illegaly . It is ILLEGAL to enter a country without a visa or any documentation .
If I tried to enter , say Australia without a Visa or a Passport , I would be detained and sent on the first flight back to Malta .
Why ? Because it is ILLEGAL to travel without a passport or any documentation .
Kevin Sammut
Jun 19th 2009, 08:32
This Imam needs to choose his words carefully, much like the pope had to apologies because of a misplaced quote during a religous university lecture! And what of the extreme violence perpetrated on chatolic priests and nuns working to help disadvantaged that followed a few comic cartoons in Denmark?
"While urging the Maltese to show more sympathy towards immigrants, he urged the Muslim community to be law-abiding and to steer clear from practices or places that "contradict our faith".
This Imam is confusing a yet unproven (in our justice system not sharia law, everyone is innocent until proven guilty) supposed racially motivitated attack with the issue of illigal immigration.
Maltese have no problems with the thousands of legal immigrants working and studying in Malta. Go to uni and you can see the harmony for yourself.
lgalea
Jun 18th 2009, 23:54
R. Callus
He came here illegally didn't he?
D Buttigieg
When you went to Canada it was because the Government in Canada wanted immigrants. You went there with your passport and all necessary details. The ILLEGAL immigrants come here ILLEGALLY, they are, in the words of our own rime Minister INVADING us, they are causing us unnecessary expenses which have now run into hundreds of millions which we cannot afford, they are imposing themselves upon us. We pay for their lodgings, food, water and electricity, telephones and mobile phones, internet... So we are not ashamed to call for their expulsion.
ANTHEA DOUGHTY You are right.
R. Callus
Jun 18th 2009, 19:59
@L Galea I am all out for freedom of expression, but can you refrain from repeating ad nauseum that you want 'all ILLEGAL migrants leave' (Do you use copy and paste or re-type it everytime?) on every single article directly or indirectly related to migration. Your comments are not politically incorrect or immoral, but plain boring. Also, if you read the news rather than retyped your boring comment, you would have realised that Mr Abubaker was not an illegal migrant since he benefited from Humanitarian Protection. No matter what your opinion is on the issue, for which one can agree to disagree, the legal status of a person is not something subjective. He was not here illegally.
D Buttigieg
Jun 18th 2009, 14:27
As a maltese imigrant living in Canada, who is visiting Malta for a holiday, I have to say that I have never seem so much bigotry and racism in Malta as I do today.
Its a shame that we as a people have forgotten our imigrant past. We have been welcomed in all corners of the world, yet now we feel we have a right to close our doors to those who wish to migrate here or through here for a better life in Europe.
Shame on us!!
ANTHEA DOUGHTY
Jun 18th 2009, 13:28
PS Britian is on the turn - in Ireland the Romanians have been being attacked and have had to be moved to safety. The Irish are fed up with the immigrants taking the housing, the school places with their children, the scarce jobs etc. It does not take a degree to work out that there is not going to be a lot of civil unrest in the future in our countries.
ANTHEA DOUGHTY
Jun 18th 2009, 13:25
@ Igalea
I agree with everything you say 100%
There is no proof that this was a racially motivated incident. I would like to see condemnation of these ILLEGAL immigrants - they have absolutely NO RIGHT WHATSOEVER to turn up in another country and demand to be basically, housed, fed, medical care, education for the children and an income for years if not forever. It is NOT racist to object to the situation that the Maltese are finding themselves in owing to this illegal invasion. So, now you have to allow siblings into your country in the unfortunate event of an illegal dying whilst there! Who would have footed the bill for this then? The world has gone mad quite frankly and I only blame one thing - our countries taking us into the EU WITHOUT our permission!!!
Sandro Agius
Jun 18th 2009, 13:01
With all respect to what the Iman said, but racism has nothing to do with the Christian or the Catholic faith. In churches it is always preached the love towards everyone and tolerance is not enough, that illegal immigrants are also our brothers and sisters; lets not mention the past centuries...it was another era...and era of wrong biblical interpretations...the fact that some members of the church were also targeted as happened with the Jesuits in recent years, Fr.Mark Montebello work itself, the Synod, the Bishop of Gozo speaches....whatever work is done obvioulsy is not enough but no one can say that the church remained silent
the barbarious killing of this Sudanese person has nothing to do with religion or similar things..."Min dan jaghrfukom li intom tieghi jekk ikollkom l-imhabba bejnitkom" which means that whoever hates is not called a Christian...as clear as that...RACISM is always evil against blacks, whites, muslims, Christian, Jews, etc....what comes from hate is always to be condemend...I myself as a catechist always teach to my group that any form of hate is wrong...
My prayers goes to Mr Abubaker...may God grant him peace
cecil herbert jones
Jun 18th 2009, 12:56
It is hard to take the position of the deceased, and be able to speak. But alas here I am speaking. So who's position am I taking? Certainly not the deceased's for I, like everyone else fear his position. We saw it coming, we looked the other way in all sorts of directions. Everybody defends his own.....position, arguing where the point of balance should be. I as a Maltese citizen of the European Union would ask, 'What is the EU's position on this?' I expect a statement, sooner rather than later. Authorities please take note.
louise vella
Jun 18th 2009, 12:12
"The Imam yesterday urged the authorities and the Church to raise their voices against "evil" racism and to mete out appropriate punishments against those who committed racially motivated crimes."
So the imam is now telling "the authorities" (presumably Malta's democratically elected Parliament - government and opposition) and the Maltese Catholic church what to do. His instructions also go to our police and our independent courts. So what's next Mr Imam? Is this a foretaste of things to come?
Louis J Galea
Jun 18th 2009, 12:08
Further to my other comments, it is also a fact, that the people of my country are renowned for their hospitality towards others from time immemorial. This small nation of mine, small as it is, has also big heart. My people have served and other still serving as missionaries in all the continents including Africa. We have aided other countires with all sorts of help, by contributing financial, commodities and volontary work to hundreds of places around the world. So statements like yours of racism in my country are not that common, my friend, the very fact that such a number of foreigners, like you, live peacfully on my land without any problems speaks for itself, does'nt it?
If the world wants to solve this phenomenon everyone, including Islamic countries, should make a big effort to stabilise these countries, so that their people would stay in their homeland and not that of others. Europe was riddled by wars including 2 world wars, yet the people rolled up their sleeves and rebuilt it to a Great Continent. And now others should follow suite and not invade others who have sacrificed so much to achieve what they have now for others.
Michael Neville Cassar
Jun 18th 2009, 11:53
I deplore the fact that thanks to certain individuals who connected their protests with racism, now we got an imam shouting the same word. It is imperative that the authority take steps against these agitators before further escalation; we cannot accept such accusations with every victim, a situation against everyone who voices his or her disagreement. These same individuals have never seized to take every opportunity to use the word racism. All over the world there are incidents of valance so let us not condemn everyone.
Louis J Galea
Jun 18th 2009, 11:35
Dear Imam,
One of the hundreds of excuses brought up to justify the influx of ILLEGAL IMIGRANTS into my country and Europe, is because of the past colonialism these African countries suffered from. Well my friend, let me teach you something, my country also suffered from colonialism for thousands of years, the last ones were the British. Yet we managed to build a society built on Christian values. We are not the richest country in the world but we survive quite well considering such a small nation without any resources at all, just human resources. When my people wanted to immigrate, they did so, but in a LEGAL manner. They went to Australia, USA, and other countries with VISAS and a Good Conduct Certificate. It is a fact that my people did well in these countries due to their good conduct and behaviour. They respected their host's cultures and believes! They went there not to invade or push their faith and impose it on others. They never complained that symbols of other faiths OFFENDED them or as Col. Gaddafi lately preached that Islam is soon going to take over Europe!
a. sciberras
Jun 18th 2009, 11:31
first of all i condemn any form of racism.
saying this how come the 'victim' was drunk and muslim? i was under the impression that muslims do not drink alchohol... i might be wrong!
Vincent Galea
Jun 18th 2009, 11:20
Is the world really getting better ?
lgalea
Jun 18th 2009, 10:48
ps
Dear Imam,
by the way, have you any proof that it was racially motivated?
"While urging the Maltese to show more sympathy towards immigrants.."
The vast majority of Maltese citizens do NOT want the ILLEGAL immigrants to remain in Malta.
We all know what happened in other countries and are determined not to let it happen here.
ALL ILLEGAL immigrants MUST LEAVE.
lgalea
Jun 18th 2009, 10:42
Dear Imam,
how about condemning the mass invasion of our country by those who have absolutely NO right to be here and also a condemnation for their traffickers?
Can you condemn the vast majority of the Maltese citizens who feel threatened by this never-ending mass invasion by a totally alien culture and which the Maltese citizens want to see an end to and want ALL the ILLEGAL, I repeat ILLEGAL immigrants expelled back to their own countries or Libya from where they have left?
Dear Imam, Malta is OUR country, and not the ILLEGAL immigrants country.
They either leave on their own accord or they must be repatriated.
That is what the vast majority of Maltese citizens in OUR own country are rightfully demanding.
Lorry Coleiro
Jun 18th 2009, 10:36
Does the Iman condems the Jihad bombs?!
Does the Iman condems Gaddavi's statements that Islam will conquest Europe?!
Does the Iman condems the London protests bearing racist plackards against European people stating; ''Europe is the Cancer - Islam is the Answer?!
mario gellel
Jun 18th 2009, 10:24
@IMAM
I CONDEMM RACISM,LIKE YOU HAVE CONDEMMED IT.BUT YOU NEVER CONDEMMED ILLIGAL HUMAN TRAFFICING,INSTEAD YOU URGED US TO OPEN OUR BORDERS AND LET EVERYBODY IN.YOU NEVER CONDEMMED PUBLICLY FOR THE WRONGDOINGS WHICH SOME OF THEM DID AND ARE STILL DOING LIKE RAPING OUR MALTESE SISTERS,STEALING,DISOBEYING AND THREATENING OUR SECURITY ecc,ecc.
THESE THINGS ARE MAKING THE MAJORITY OF THE MALTESE ANGRY AND IN SOME WAY RACIST. AND THIS AFTER THEY ARE FED AND SHELTERED FOR FREE FROM OUR TAXES. PREACH TO THEM THAT THIS ISLAND IS NOT THEIRS AND THEY AND NOT US SHOULD CHANGE THE CULTURE. THEN HOPEFULLY THINGS WILL CHANGE FOR THE BETTER
Dr Giuseppe Schembri Bonaci
Jun 18th 2009, 10:04
I agree with the position of the quoted Imam. However, I would also wish to believe that in a similar vein he would urge authorities from all the islamic world to raise their voices against "evil" rascism when this is directed against other religions including christian religion. I would also like to hear him requesting islamic authorities "to mete out appropriate punishments against those who committed racially motivated crimes", even when these are committed against Europeans.