LazyLion
King of de Jungle
The Muslim Judicial Council will hold a "fatwa committee" meeting today in Cape Town to decide if the Burger King outlet in the city should have its halaal certificate revoked.
Last week, People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (Pagad) called for one of Burger King's primary shareholders, Hassen Adams, to be investigated by Muslim organisations because of his involvement in the gaming industry.
There are just over 1.2million Muslims in Cape Town so halaal certification is important for many fast-food businesses in the city.
Burger King opened its first outlet in South Africa, in Cape Town, two weeks ago.
Adams, whose Grand Parade Investments operates the local Burger King franchise, is also one of the BEE shareholders in the Grand West Casino and is a prominent owner of race horses.
Pagad spokesman Abdullah Salie said the organisation had no objections to Burger King's entry into the local market.
"We're simply speaking from an Islamic perspective because the owner is involved in a gambling establishment [Grand West Casino] and it's money that is derived from a business that causes devastation among many families," said Salie.
In the 1990s Pagad became infamous for an urban campaign that at first focused on attacking drug dealers and known gangsters but later allegedly targeted the police and justice system officials.
Most of its leaders who were jailed at that time have since been released from prison and the organisation relaunched itself a few years ago. Today it is conducting a low-level campaign against drug dealers, particularly on the Cape Flats.
Thousands queued at Burger King's opening to get their hands on the franchise' s signature meal - The Whopper.
But, as Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille cut the ribbon to open Burger King's new premises, Pagad said it wanted to meet the officials who had handed the franchise a halal seal of approval.
"We're trying to set up a meeting with the Islamic Council of SA on the financing of this business.
"In this instance, the identification of Adams as a Muslim is clear-cut.
"God forbids him to go near gambling or alcohol and we're holding him accountable to Islamic principles," said Salie.
The Muslim Judicial Council's spokesman on issues of halaal, Ahmed Sedick, said a "fatwa committee" of "five to seven members" was set up to rule on the halaal status of Burger King in relation to Adams.
He said the council had no qualms about Burger King's methods of food preparation because they followed the protocols necessary for them to be declared halal, but Adams's business dealings were problematic for many in the Muslim community.
"Because he's Muslim, [it] changes the emphasis.
"If he were a non-Muslim, it would not have mattered," said Sedick.
Adams's business practices were not condoned by the teachings of Islam, he said.
Adams did not respond to questions from The Times.
Source: http://www.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/2013/05/21/burger-king-s-halaal-hurdle
Last week, People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (Pagad) called for one of Burger King's primary shareholders, Hassen Adams, to be investigated by Muslim organisations because of his involvement in the gaming industry.
There are just over 1.2million Muslims in Cape Town so halaal certification is important for many fast-food businesses in the city.
Burger King opened its first outlet in South Africa, in Cape Town, two weeks ago.
Adams, whose Grand Parade Investments operates the local Burger King franchise, is also one of the BEE shareholders in the Grand West Casino and is a prominent owner of race horses.
Pagad spokesman Abdullah Salie said the organisation had no objections to Burger King's entry into the local market.
"We're simply speaking from an Islamic perspective because the owner is involved in a gambling establishment [Grand West Casino] and it's money that is derived from a business that causes devastation among many families," said Salie.
In the 1990s Pagad became infamous for an urban campaign that at first focused on attacking drug dealers and known gangsters but later allegedly targeted the police and justice system officials.
Most of its leaders who were jailed at that time have since been released from prison and the organisation relaunched itself a few years ago. Today it is conducting a low-level campaign against drug dealers, particularly on the Cape Flats.
Thousands queued at Burger King's opening to get their hands on the franchise' s signature meal - The Whopper.
But, as Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille cut the ribbon to open Burger King's new premises, Pagad said it wanted to meet the officials who had handed the franchise a halal seal of approval.
"We're trying to set up a meeting with the Islamic Council of SA on the financing of this business.
"In this instance, the identification of Adams as a Muslim is clear-cut.
"God forbids him to go near gambling or alcohol and we're holding him accountable to Islamic principles," said Salie.
The Muslim Judicial Council's spokesman on issues of halaal, Ahmed Sedick, said a "fatwa committee" of "five to seven members" was set up to rule on the halaal status of Burger King in relation to Adams.
He said the council had no qualms about Burger King's methods of food preparation because they followed the protocols necessary for them to be declared halal, but Adams's business dealings were problematic for many in the Muslim community.
"Because he's Muslim, [it] changes the emphasis.
"If he were a non-Muslim, it would not have mattered," said Sedick.
Adams's business practices were not condoned by the teachings of Islam, he said.
Adams did not respond to questions from The Times.
Source: http://www.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/2013/05/21/burger-king-s-halaal-hurdle
