Halloween post: KZN Jamiatul Ulama under scrutiny for describing Hindus and Christians as ‘Shaytan’ worshippers
A Jamiatul Ulama KwaZulu-Natal social media post describing Halloween as “devil worship” and making claims about other religions has drawn criticism from religious leaders, who say it risks deepening intolerance.
The Jamiatul Ulama KwaZulu-Natal, a religious organization in South Africa, faced criticism after a social media post depicted Halloween as "devil worship" and claimed that Christians, Jews, and Hindus worshipped "Shaytan," or Satan. The post advised Muslims not to participate in Halloween celebrations, leading to outrage among religious leaders who accused the organization of promoting intolerance and undermining social cohesion.
In response, the organization's executive committee issued a clarification and an unreserved apology, acknowledging that the message should have been communicated without insulting other faith communities. The organization also accepted responsibility for the incident and pledged to strengthen its internal oversight and public communication procedures.
Religious leaders, including Professor Brij Maharaj, condemned the post, calling it irresponsible, offensive, and incompatible with South Africa's constitutional values. They emphasized that such statements not only represent theological disagreements but also cross the line into religious intolerance, risking the division and undermining social cohesion among the diverse communities in the country.
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