Imam Abdullah Harun who was resisting against the colonial system which started with slave trade in 15th century in South Africa, has been arrested by political police in 1969 and martyred by heavy tortures on 27 September 1969.
47th martyrdom anniversary has been commemorated Imam Harun, became a target of racism and colonist because of Islamic struggles he has done.
Imam Harun has worked as hard as he could do for a liberate South Africa where people could live fraternally, he became a Muslim symbol name in fighting against racism system in South Africa where 30 million blacks and 3 million Hindus were living.
Abdullah Harun has assigned as Imam to Cleremont Mosque, has won the favor of public with his prayers. Making tafsir lectures in the mosque, he had great impressment on the youth people. In his 3rd year of being imam, he made an active community.
Not satisfied with giving lecturers in the mosque Imam Harun, he opened job and search center for training of women, enlarged reading groups towards youth people. He was an editor for Muslim News which was the only Muslim newspaper in country.
Imam Harun supplied the organizations with “Islamic Justice”, “Muslim Youth Movement” and “Al Kiblah” against racist regime and cruelties which black people experiencing in South Africa.
Imam Harun explaining the purpose of his struggles with these words: “Our purpose is not eliminate the white nation and replace with black nation. Not even a movement for financial. Our cause is against racist-secular South Africa Republic which they don’t rule with the rule of Allah. To liberate people from cruelty and exploitation, doesn’t matter to be Muslim, Christian, white or black. We are not racist. We believe people are equal like the teeth of a comb. It doesn’t matter against who, we will continue our fighting till we exist these our belief.”
Abdullah Harun wasn’t an ordinary imam any more that only praying salaah. He was a fighter against the racist doing by white monitory within advice and showing the true path. These actions of Imam Harun were being observed by political polices.
The most dangerous actions of Imam Harun for the Africa Republic were being in cooperation with Africa National Congress (ANC) and Pan Africa Congress (PAC). Abdullah Harun was having meetings with the leaders of those congresses and especially persuading young people for education in abroad.
Imam Harun went to Maccah before his last overseas trip and did his hajj duty then participated to the meetings of ANC and PAC in Egypt. Then he travelled to London and made some meetings with the leaders of ANC and PAC. Even he was very deliberative, his actions came to the regime’s spies attention.
Imam Harun, after returned to South Africa he was called to be questioning by political polices with the excuse of some doubts and he was arrested in a Holy Birth day on 28 May 1969.
Interrogation days had started for Imam Harun within the hard condition in the cell. Police offices required only a few names, domestic members of PAC that he is in contact. He would be released in return but he didn’t accept that.
Political polices tried to make Abdullah Harun speak by beating him. Polices didn’t get what they want so they potentiated beating within a new day. By giving electricity to his body, they tried to get information. One of his rib was broken during the torture, oedema formatted in part of his body. Imam Harun was saying “ahad, ahad, ahad” against their tortures like Bilali Habeshi (a friend of Prophet) answered to disbelievers against tortures. Potentiate torture raised so he couldn’t even stand up in his last days.
After 138 days being under tortures and staying in cell Abdullah Harun has reached to the martyrdom level on 27 September 1969. (ILKHA)