Durban businessman Farhad Hoomer launches political party advocating Sharia law
Farhad Hoomer has lodged an application to register his political party, Islamic State of Africa
Image: Al- Qalam
A Durban businessman, previously accused of terror related activities, has now ventured into politics.
Farhad Hoomer has lodged an application to register a political party, Islamic State of Africa (ISA), with its constitution focusing on implementing Sharia law.
Speaking to the Sunday Tribune, Hoomer said he had applied to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) earlier this month. His intention was to contest the local government elections taking place next year.
His entry into politics has raised eyebrows, with the not-for-profit platform DearSouthAfrica.co.za that enables the public to shape government policies, amendments and proposals, calling on people to have their say regarding Hoomer’s application to the IEC.
Hoomer acknowledged the objections to the party and its name, but said he also had the support of many others in the community.
“There is a pastor who has been with the DA (Democratic Alliance) for many years and is helping me with the registration. He also raised concern about the name of the party, but I’m not bending the rules. I want to be clear from the outset what the party is about. I do not want to enter politics as a snake and then try to implement Sharia law,” said Hoomer.
Sharia law is the system of religious laws within Islam and is derived from the Qur’an. It lays down the governing principles to promote human welfare.
Hoomer was of the view that democracy has failed, more people have been impoverished resulting in increased crime and social ills.
“Under Sharia law, the government is obligated to provide work for people and if work cannot be provided then the government must give an income to the unemployed. The West has demonised Sharia Law and therefore it is seen as terrorism, when in fact history tells us that wherever Sharia law has been implemented, not just in Muslim countries, the people and the country prospered,” said Hoomer.
He said he wanted the opportunity to educate people about Sharia law because if implemented would result in reduced taxes and no interest rates, which would equate to a better lifestyle for the masses.
“I decided to go into politics because of the injustice. People have been enslaved by the banking system. The stock market is an open gambling school. Interest rates are only making the rich richer. We need justice. We need transparency and we need accountability from the government,” he said.
Hoomer was no stranger to controversy, with a number of run-ins with the law since 2018. He has been accused of several terror-related activities, including being associated with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). He was arrested and charged along with a group of others for the 2018 murder of a Muslim priest and a mechanic at a Verulam mosque as well as the planting of incendiary devices at a number of shopping malls. But the charges were later withdrawn.
Hoomer has also been sanctioned by the US and has been flagged as a terrorist.
However, he has not been convicted of any of the crimes.
“So does being accused still make me a criminal? If I have a criminal record, you can hold it against me but I don’t,” said Hoomer, providing evidence of charges against him being withdrawn.
The IEC has confirmed receiving Hoomer’s application and objections to it.
Masego Sheburi, the Deputy Chief Electoral Officer of Electoral Operation said the application was to contest elections in the eThekwini Municipality.
“Consistent with the scheme, the party published its intention to register. The purpose of publication of intention to register is to facilitate objections by any interested party. We confirm that objections to the registration of the party have been received within the 14 days permitted by the Electoral Commission Act,” he said.
Sheburi said the Commission would assess the application for compliance with the law. Among the factors to be assessed by the IEC, Sheburi said, was whether the party had the signatures of 300 registered voters, if the proposed and abbreviated name or logo similar to a party that was already in existence.
He said they would also check if the name of the party, logo or constitution propagates violence, hatred or cause serious offence to any section of the population on the grounds of race, gender, sex, ethnic origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture or language or excludes membership of the party on grounds of their race, ethnic origin or colour.