Umbilo mom wants Isis nightmare to end
The family of a former Umbilo man is shocked by the victimisation they have received after a tweet alleging he was an ISIS terrorist killed by Iraqi soldiers went viral on social media.
AN Umbilo mother, who was thrown into the spotlight this week after a tweeted photograph of her son’s South African driver’s licence alleging he was an ISIS terrorist went viral on Twitter last Thursday, wants the nightmare to end.
The woman, who is known to Berea Mail but wishes to remain anonymous, has been socially victimised since the post went viral at the weekend and cannot go out in public without people pointing and whispering around her.
The Umbilo family which includes young children, has been the subject of prying questions after a photo which was uploaded by Iraq Live Update, a breaking news service on Twitter last Thursday with the caption: “Dead Daesh terrorist held South African driving license! #SouthAfrica joins the club.. #Iraq pic.twitter.com/fsm0vmJmX” went viral.
While the mother is no closer to getting answers about the origins of the photograph, as her son Aqeel Abdul-Haq Kloberie has not been in touch with her for some months while working overseas, she is sure there is some mistake. “My son is a peaceful person and would not hurt a fly,” she said, but refused to comment further as she feels violated by the media.
Kloberie, who lived in Umbilo as a young boy, went to Bechet High School and is believed to have converted to Islam more than twenty years ago.
While the tweet has sparked controversy, it has also shed light on Islamophobia which seems to have become rife after the recent Paris attacks.
