#Letter: Objections based on emotive generalisations
"We all have a constitutional right to freedom of religion, including the erection of a mosque in Ballito, which should not be obstructed by petty technicalities, generalisations, entitlement, prejudices, ignorance or hidden agendas" - Ashraf Mather.
Ashraf Mather of Stanger writes:
Ken Lever’s letter in reaction to my comments (on Townsend Park), have conveniently avoided the historical perspective.
Under apartheid, Ballito was the exclusive preserve of the white population, which meant amenities like Townsend Park were set aside for whites only.
His argument does not deal with this crucial issue and the fact that no mosque area was proposed by objectors after the formal demise of apartheid or during its existence.
This was despite an urgent need for a Muslim place of worship like that offered to other religious bodies. KDM has correctly identified this vacant piece of land for a mosque, as there are no plans to utilise same for any other purpose.
The implication that additional land or green spaces could not be found or established if needed to compensate for the sale, is not supported by any tangible evidence.
No evidence has been furnished about how the sale would detract from the original purpose of the park, as only a portion of the large area would be sold.
A mosque is a public amenity, but maybe Muslims are not the kind of “public” you have in mind.
The letter downplays the fact that only a small portion would be sold so that the Muslim public of Ballito and surroundings can fulfil their duties.
The purpose and intent argument is clearly not supported by empirical data about how the people who currently use the park would be disadvantaged by the sale.
Hence the objections are based on generalisations and are emotive and subjective.
To infer that the objections are viewed as nothing more than playing the “race card” is lamentable, and so is the view that support for the sale is “anti-white” or” anti-development”, or intended to deprive or limit residents from the use of the park.
This unfounded belief is preposterous and so old-fashioned.
We all have a constitutional right to freedom of religion, including the erection of a mosque in Ballito, which should not be obstructed by petty technicalities, generalisations, entitlement, prejudices, ignorance or hidden agendas.
Please respect the submission and support the sale.
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