"There is a very important lesson that Cape Town is able to teach the rest of the world," Rasool said at the Western Cape's official Eid celebration this weekend. "We are showing the rest of the world that Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus and all other faiths need to tolerate each other. We are showing that, indeed, we can co-exist, we can co-operate, we can begin to accept each other and we can overcome our differences. "We are showing that different faiths and cultures can find a common bond that unites all people of faith and the whole of humanity across the world," he said.
The Premier was addressing some 500 mainly Muslim guests from various parts of the Western Cape who were joined by clergy from different faiths to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr at his official residence, Leeuwenhof, yesterday(Sat). Local Muslims with roots in Somalia, Senegal and Nigeria also joined in the celebrations, as well as several members of the diplomatic corps.
"Our lifestyle here in the Western Cape is the envy of Muslims across the world," said Rasool, who has become been described by the Sunday Times as 'The New Guru on Muslims in the West'. "Here we have a unique and special ability to combine who we are with who we are with. We are rooted in our own faith but, at the same time, we are reaching out and co-operating with people across the board - and that is the formula that comes so simply to us in the Western Cape and South Africa but is so elusive elsewhere in the world."
Rasool said the gathering was not only an opportunity for Muslims to celebrate Eid but it was also an opportunity for Muslims themselves to see who the Muslim community was. "Sometimes, when you are in the Bo Kaap, you will think that the Muslim community of Cape Town is Malay. When you are in Rylands, you will think that the Muslim community of Cape Town is Indian. When you are in Masiphumelele, you will think that Muslims are Somali. And so we can go on. The point is that Muslims are a diverse community united by the principles of the New Islam."
It was very important for Muslims to retain their identity and forge greater unity amongst themselves. Most importantly, however, Muslims had to connect with other faith communities.
"We need each other. We need to cooperate with each other and Cape Town has a vital role to play in showing the rest of our brothers and sisters across the world that we can co-exist. That is a very important lesson that Cape Town is able to teach many others across the world. "I hope that we will appreciate that, all over the world, we are busy building a positive image of who we are as muslims, not defined by the extremists amongst us, not defined by those who often follow their own agendas, but defined more and more by the beautiful example of co-operation, co-existence and multi-culturalism that we have here in the Western Cape."
For enquiries:
Jeremy Michaels
Chief Director: Communications (Acting)
Director: Media Relations
Office of the Premier
Provincial Government of the Western Cape
Cell: +27 (0)82 772 1122
Office: +27 (0)21 483 9955
Fax: +27 (0)21 483 7196
E-mail:jmichaels@pgwc.gov.za
Postal address: PO Box 659, Cape Town, 8000.
Physical address: Office of the Premier, Mezzanine Level, M23, 7 Wale Street, Cape Town, South Africa, 8001.
Website: www.capegateway.gov.za
