Let’s go back a bit. We all remember those shocking headlines many years back claiming that al-Qaeda had landed and are operating in South Africa. Bombs went off, and we all expected this new, phantom al-Qaeda (Mzansi branch) would claim responsibility. Back then, if you had asked me about the Boeremag, I’d have thought you were referring to a glossy Farmers’ Weekly. Yet the reality played out, Boeremag arrests and subsequent trial, and well, those experts hoping to pin blame on (this so-called-yet-to-be-found/tried) al-Qaeda Msanzi, were left red-faced and exposed. A feature that would be a recurring theme in the coming years, as attempt upon attempt would fail to garner the panic effect: Run for your lives, Muslims want to destroy the world, via South Africa…

Seriously?

It is with great disappointment that once again the fear mongers have left their caves. They do so every few years –Hoosen Solomons and Co attempt to disrupt the equilibrium, fail dismally, and return to their caves forced to tear down the “Mission Accomplished” banner they borrowed from George Bush. They are not easily deterred and seem almost galvanised by failure. They are driven by trial and error, hoping that one day it would stick. Thankfully, it never does.

This latest installment of “Terrorism Search SA” sees the country’s Muslim population being placed under the spotlight and scrutinised, once again. The Dockrat family were the target in the first part of De Wet Potgieter’s latest series (and probably the second) and even though they have released a response poking clear holes in De Wet’s piece, the damage that this report could’ve caused to the family might not be undone so easily. People who know the Dockrats personally have come out in defence of them publicly, and what we are hearing is chalk and cheese compared to the picture being portrayed of them. “Humble”, “generous” are some of the many praises that you will hear. Another analyst has further stated that this article has once again intended to set up the Muslim Bogeyman – a mythical creature that is able to send an entire country into a frenzied state of panic or fear. There is no such creature, and if it did exist, it would probably be playing golf with the Unicorns and Tooth Fairy by now. Oh wait, reference to Golf, which is played on golf estates. My bad.

It is, as one analyst said, a battle of ideas. When stories like this hit the mainstream media, Muslims have the disadvantage of not being able to counter these claims on the same platforms that it lands on, as and when it happens. While we do have far-reaching media like Radio Islam and others at our disposal, it must be taken into account that we are preaching to the converted. Our listeners know all too well the storyline playing out. As “Islamophobia” spreads globally, we are, as always, the “usual suspects”.

When a Christian or someone from another religious denomination is implicated in bombings the individual is taken to task, but if a Muslim is blamed, Islam is put on trial. You just have to look at the way the media dealt with Anders Breivik and the Norway attacks, or Timothy McVeigh and the Oklahoma Bombing. Their religion never precedes their names in news stories. Ever. But if they were Muslim… Yep, you know the drill.

But why am I even talking about attacks, in South Africa? Have there been any? Oh wait, there have. Ironically, Muslims have been the victims of these attacks. Pigs’ heads laid at mosque entrances, mosques bombed in Soweto and even Vryheid, xenophobic attacks on shopkeepers (a lot of the migrant community are Muslim).

But that’s another issue altogether. De Wet Potgieter’s article speaks of the Malawis and Pakistanis frequenting the mentioned mosque. Err… So what? They are carrying out their religious obligations i.e. praying, then go home to their families. Remember, it is government’s decision to allow them into the country, not the local Muslim community, right? Many you speak to on the street say that the article picking on the Pakistani and Malawian communities in itself is xenophobic. One said that it is articles like these that prompt xenophobic attacks in the first place.

It is important to note, that every mosque has a wide spectrum of nationalities and that points towards the cosmopolitan appeal of Islam – people from all walks of life coming together to pray under one roof, one banner of peace and  respect for all. Islam, you see, appeals to all races.

So why now, this renewed attempt at kick-starting a war on Muslims, or war on Islam in South Africa? We don’t really know, but here in South Africa, Muslims have been going about their lives as they always have – minding their own business, taking care of their families, looking after each other. Terrorism? “Ain’t nobody got time for that.”

If you have freedom of religion, are able to put up mosque’s and schools, hospitals, and clinics to better the communities you live in, basically improving the lives of all, then why would you want to attack the very country in which you have invested your time, money and  lives towards? It doesn’t make sense at all.

Back to how we feel about this latest installment of attempts to unsettle everybody. We are indeed dismayed, but seeing as it is not the first time, and surely not the last, we are becoming worryingly accustomed to these sorts of things. The disappointment is numbed and replaced with a universally mumbled sigh of “here we go again”. And then we move on, like, totally.

Oh, and one more thing. If this Operation Kanu was halted at the beginning of 2010 and the World Cup took place in June-July 2010, that would mean that if there was any chance of danger that year, whoever was masterminding whatever would have free reign to carry out attacks, seeing as nobody was watching them anymore. And yet, lo and behold, “shock”, “awe” and “gasp” nothing happened. So, if the decision was made by government to halt Operation Kanu and nothing happened during the world’s biggest sporting spectacle, with all eyes on South Africa, VIPs for daaaays (30 days to be precise), then one would have to say that the decision made to halt the surveillance, in hindsight, was vindicated. It would seem that, just like this operation’s namesake, the lanky striker Kanu in his twilight days, it had no legs to stand on… didn’t hit the target as expected…was forced into retirement… Someone stop me now ‘cause I could go all day with this one.

Operation Waco carried on and resulted in the Boeremag arrests and trial and, to many, therein lies Mr Potgieter’s grievance. DM

PS: This article has zero sources and took a short while to write.

Ejaz Khan is an award-winning content producer at Radio Islam, avid Liverpool supporter, and sometimes tweets in his sleep. Interact with him on Twitter: @ejaz_k