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Response to MJC's Panel

Response to MJC's Panel

From: Public Relations [mailto:pro-kzn@sanha.org.za]
Sent: 13 June 2012 03:54 PM
To: "'Shahid Sulaiman '"@cordelia.telkomsa.net
Cc: public@ihrp.co.za; public@ihrp.org.za
Subject: Independent Halaal Review Panel

Brother Shahid Sulaiman,

Assalaamu alaykum

Jazakumullahu Khayran for the much anticipated copy of the report recently released by yourselves.

We note with surprise that the report cites Moulana Abbas Zubair Ali as one of the two Shari'ah Advisors to the panel. The respected Aalim confirms that he was never party to any IHRP deliberations, nor was he ever consulted, let alone being made aware of his appointment as Shari'ah Advisor to the IHRP. His only exposure to the work of your panel was when Mr. Harron Kalla (IHRP Chairman) and a Mr. Akhtar Thokan informally visited him at his residence on Sunday, 3^rd June 2012. This was a few days prior to publishing the report when the IHRP findings and recommendations were already drafted. During their visit, excerpts from the report were read and the IHRP's review activity was highlighted to the respected Aalim in an informal manner.

We therefore believe that this is a gross misrepresentation which casts serious doubts on the integrity of the process and the veracity of the report itself. This travesty is but a poor attempt to garner credibility and impartiality for the IHRP. The IHRP owes an immediate explanation and an urgent apology to both the learned Aalim and to the Muslims of South Africa.

Was-salaam,

Yours sincerely,

For South African National Halaal Authority

EBI Lockhat

Public Relations Officer

Tel: +27 (31) 207 5768

Fax: +27 (31) 207 5793

Cell: +27 (0) 83 777 0121

Website: www.sanha.org.za

From: Shahid Sulaiman [mailto:mosulan@gmail.com]
Sent: 08 June 2012 03:19 PM
To: 'Public Relations'
Cc: public@ihrp.co.za; public@ihrp.org.za
Subject: RE: Independent Halaal Review Panel

Attention: EBI Lockhat

Esteemed Brothers in Islam

Assalaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatu

We appreciate the sentiments recorded in your email of 6 June 2012.

We note that the timing and content of all email communications were the subject of the consensus of the entire panel.

Wassalaamu alaikum wa rahmatulahi wa barakaatuh

Shahid Sulaiman

From: Public Relations [mailto:pro-kzn@sanha.org.za]
Sent: 07 June 2012 09:54
To: mosulan@gmail.com
Cc: public@ihrp.co.za; public@ihrp.org.za
Subject: Independent Halaal Review Panel

Dear Brother Shahid,

Assalaamu alaikum

Jazakumullah Khairan for forwarding us a copy of the IHRP report.

Whilst we were deeply disappointed at the IHRP's stance and digging of its heels in not wanting to meet us, we did note your timeous responses to us as the Secretary. Thank you.

Please be assured that our issue was with the message and not the messenger. You are most welcome to visit us at any time and I too will endeavour to meet with you on my next trip to Cape Town.

We ask for your duas that Allah Ta'ala guides us all in upholding the mission of Halaal in a manner that pleases Him best, Aameen.

Was Salaam

Yours sincerely

For South African National Halaal Authority

EBI Lockhat

Public Relations Officer

Tel: +27 (31) 207 5768

Fax: +27 (31) 207 5793

Cell: +27 (0) 83 777 0121

Website: www.sanha.org.za

This message may contain information which is private, privileged or confidential and is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity named in the message. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, please notify the sender thereof and destroy/delete the message. Neither the sender nor SANHA shall incur any liability resulting directly or indirectly from accessing any of the attached files which may contain a virus or the like.

___________________________________________________________

From: Shahid Sulaiman [mailto:mosulan@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2012 7:49 PM
To: 'Public Relations'
Subject: IHRP Report

Attn: EBI Lockhat

Respected Brothers In Islam

Assalaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh

I attach a copy of the IHRP's report for your information.

Wassalaam

Shahid Sulaiman

(Secretary - IHRP)

From: Shahid Sulaiman [mailto:mosulan@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2012 8:02 AM
To: 'Public Relations'
Subject: RE: Independent Halaal Review Panel

Attention: EBI Lockhat

Esteemed Brothers in Islam

Assalaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatu

Thank you for your email of 4 June 2012, the contents of which are noted, but not admitted.

Our position remains as set out in our email of 29 May 2012. We note that the IHRP is an independent body with a specified scope of work in respect of which we respectfully sought your submissions. To the extent that you wish to raise any matters outside the panel?s scope of work with the MJC or the MJCHT, you are free to contact them directly in that regard.

Our report will be on published on our website, at which point a media release will be issued and a copy provided to the MJCHT.

We will send a copy to you via email, as a courtesy.

Wassalaamu alaikum wa rahmatulahi wa barakaatuh

Shahid Sulaiman

From: Public Relations [mailto:pro-kzn@sanha.org.za]
Sent: 05 June 2012 10:13
To: mosulan@gmail.com
Cc: public@ihrp.co.za; public@ihrp.org.za
Subject: Independent Halaal Review Panel

Dear Brother in Islam,

Assalaamu alaikum.

We refer to your e-mail of 29^th May, 2012 and note with regret your obdurate refusal to meet with us. Your consistent spurning of our invitations emphatically reinforces the notion of your creation as a public relation tool of appeasement by the MJC, for the MJC, to the MJC.

History will show that your refusal to meet is in keeping with the actions of your Principal, the MJC, who have consistently refused to engage with us since the Orion matter in November last year, notwithstanding our many efforts which is well-documented.

The problems that surfaced during the Orion saga are symptomatic of a deeper malady from a decade ago which was identified and presented to your Principals, the MJC in 2002 in the presence of esteemed Ulama members of the United Ulama Council of South Africa (UUCSA). Unfortunately, it was not addressed and the problems fester to this day.

Would you kindly favour us with a copy of your report as soon as possible, Jazakumullah khairan.

Was Salaam

Yours sincerely

For South African National Halaal Authority

EBI Lockhat

Public Relations Officer

Tel: +27 (31) 207 5768

Fax: +27 (31) 207 5793

Cell: +27 (0) 83 777 0121

Website: www.sanha.org.za

From: Shahid Sulaiman [mailto:mosulan@gmail.com]
Sent: 29 May 2012 09:19 AM
To: 'Public Relations'
Subject: RE: Independent Halaal Review Panel

Attention: EBI Lockhat

Respected Brothers in Islam

Assalaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh

Thank you for your email of 23 May 2012.

As you are aware, the IHRP was formed as a body outside of the MJCHT in February of this year to (i) look into the certification processes of the MJCHT on the basis set out in the terms of reference of the IHRP, and (ii) provide recommendations to the MJCHT. Although, the events leading to the IHRP's formation were the events surrounding the Orion saga, the IHRP's mandate is not limited to investigating the Orion saga exclusively.

The IHRP wishes to ensure that all relevant issues are identified and appropriately considered for the purposes of its report. For this reason, the IHRP invited submissions since February of this year to assist in the identification of all relevant issues, and earlier in this month extended specific invitations to yourselves and certain other bodies to make submissions.

Aside from the content of submissions received, the IHRP has in the course of its activities (which include inspections, review of documents and interviews) identified several issues that will form the basis of its report.

Given the tight time frames within which the IHRP is working, the purpose of submissions and engaging with stakeholders and interested parties is to ensure that any pressing concerns of stakeholders and interested parties are considered by the IHRP, to the extent not already identified by the IHRP. Similarly, submissions are important from the perspective of the IHRP to ensure that important issues known to stakeholders and interested parties are not missed.

In order to garner the most benefit from the limited time available to the IHRP, it is not feasible to engage stakeholders in circumstances where this process would only raise issues already identified by the IHRP. For this reason, written submissions are critical to ensure, not only that the scope for misunderstanding is minimized, but that (i) the IHRP is alerted to new issues not already known to the IHRP, which would then be in a position to engage further with the relevant stakeholders and interested parties on these new issues, and (ii) there is a written record that can be used, referred to and made available to all panel members.

We accordingly repeat our invitation to you to advise us, albeit in summary form, of any issues that you feel the IHRP should consider. To the extent that any of the issues raised by yourselves have not already been identified, the IHRP would then be in a position to look into these new issues.

We would welcome a written submission even if you feel that you would like to limit it to the Orion incident.

Wassalaamu alaikum

Shahid Sulaiman

From: Public Relations [mailto:pro-kzn@sanha.org.za]
Sent: 23 May 2012 12:31
To: mosulan@gmail.com
Cc: public@ihrp.co.za; public@ihrp.org.za
Subject: Independent Halaal Review Panel

Dear Brother in Islam,

Assalaamu alaikum

Jazakumullah Khairan for your email of 15/5/2012 clarifying the situation around the emails.

Our understanding and what the IHRP has articulated through Mr. Collier publicly as far back as February this year that the IHRP ?has appointed several working groups? and that "the working groups will report their findings and recommendations to the IHRP who in turn will identify relevant stakeholders who will be consulted before its report is made public."

Accordingly and following a logical sequence, we believed that we would be identified as a stakeholder and be contacted by yourselves especially considering the fact that we were one of the applicants in the court matter that led to your formation in the first instance. We also believed that as an "independent panel" appointed by the MJC, you may want to investigate the bizarre claims of your client that SANHA was behind the 3^rd Degree programme and other such allegations, more so with the MJC refusing to respond to our numerous requests for meetings.

We did not envisage our action to be relegated to one of aggrieved whingers relishing the opportunity of dumping complaints to a committee of the MJC or any other for that matter. We have over the years on many an occasion undertaken visits and initiated discussions with your clients directly towards unity and conciliation which is well documented.

Nevertheless, to avoid this matter being bogged down by semantics, protocol and procedure, we spell out our unambiguous position as follows: -

If your committee deems it of importance to question us on any concerns and obtain our views which you feel could be of benefit to your client the MJC and the Ummah, then by all means you are most welcome to talk to us without obligation or protocol. And in talking to us you would be solely in control of the process of the information gathering, its veracity and merits, and the acceptance and rejection of same which will meet your criteria of ? no scope for misunderstanding of the matters being laid before the Panel for consideration.? This would indeed be the fulfilment of your public promise of ?talking to the relevant stakeholders?. Simply asking us to make a written submission as a reaction to our querying your lack of interest, would be meaningless and in our view mere appeasement to the process that such submission was obtained.

We do not wish to labour this issue any longer lest it be misconstrued that we have some kind of an axe to grind with the MJC. Hence this unambiguous clarification which crystallises our position.

May Allah Ta'ala guide us all to sincerity of purpose in serving the Ummah in a manner that pleases Him best, Aameen.

Was Salaam

Yours sincerely

For South African National Halaal Authority

EBI Lockhat

Public Relations Officer

Tel: +27 (31) 207 5768

Fax: +27 (31) 207 5793

Cell: +27 (0) 83 777 0121

Website: www.sanha.org.za

From: Shahid Sulaiman [mailto:mosulan@gmail.com]
Sent: 15 May 2012 01:29 PM
To: 'Public Relations'
Subject: RE: Independent Halaal Review Panel

ATTN: Mr EBI Lockhat, Public Relations Officer, SANHA

Respect Brother in Islam

Assalaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh

Thank you for your email of 9 May 2012 and the reissued invitation contained therein.

Your original invitation appears (based on the document that you provided to us as part of your email) to have been addressed via email to the URL of the Panel's website. This might explain why it was not received by us, as emails cannot be sent to a website URL. As things stand, we were only made aware of your original invitation through the media.

In any event, we believe that your submissions would be a valuable aid to the Panel in its report. To the extent that the deadline by which your submissions were requested is not feasible for your organisation, we welcome you to make your submissions at any time that is convenient to you and to any of the Panel?s contact details. However, the Panel has committed to publishing its report by the first week of June and would prefer receiving your submissions before 29 May 2012, as it would not be feasible to adequately take into account submissions received after 29 May 2012 for the purposes of the Panel?s report. Nonetheless, we will endeavour to fully consider all submissions received.

You will of course appreciate that the Panel?s report must be able to demonstrate that its findings are backed by a review process with objectively determinable reference points and verifiable evidence. Accordingly, we respectfully request that you provide us with your submissions in writing so as to ensure that there is no scope for misunderstanding of the matters being laid before the Panel for consideration.

We look forward to engaging further upon receiving your submissions.

Wassalaam

Shahid Sulaiman

(Secretary ? IHRP)

From: Public Relations [mailto:pro-kzn@sanha.org.za]
Sent: 09 May 2012 11:45
To: mosulan@gmail.com
Cc: public@ihrp.co.za; public@ihrp.org.za
Subject: Independent Halaal Review Panel

Mr Shahid Sulaiman

The Secretary

The Independent Halaal Review Panel

Dear Brother in Islam,

Assalaamu alaikum

We acknowledge receipt of your email of 5/5/2012.

We note that according to you "The IHRP has completed the bulk of its review processes required for the purposes of its terms of reference," and believes that it is only now "appropriate to direct specific invitations to parties involved in the halaal sector to make submissions to the IHRP" and hence the request.

Notwithstanding your board's allegation of not receiving our invitation of 26/4/2012 to meet with us and in the greater interest of progress, we reissue the invitation in a spirit of co-operation. We do not attach any pedantic or bureaucratic procedures in terms of the format, address for submission and deadline for same as you have stipulated in your invitation.

It is your prerogative to either accept and act on our invitation or reject same as you see fit.

Was Salaam

Yours sincerely

For South African National Halaal Authority

EBI Lockhat

Public Relations Officer

Tel: +27 (31) 207 5768

Fax: +27 (31) 207 5793

Cell: +27 (0) 83 777 0121

Website: www.sanha.org.za

Also sent to:

emails: public@ihrp.co.za

public@ihrp.org.za

copy faxed to: 021 7060033

also submitted as a comment on your website page on http://www.ihrp.co.za/?page_id=27

______________________________________________________________

From: Shahid Sulaiman [mailto:mosulan@gmail.com]

Sent: 05 May 2012 09:54 PM

To: sanha-kzn@sanha.org.za; pro-kzn@sanha.org.za

Subject: Independent Halaal Review Panel

Respected Brothers in Islam

Assalaamu alaikum

Please see the attached correspondence.

Wassalaam

Shahid Sulaiman

(Secretary - IHRP)

From: Public Relations [mailto:pro-kzn@sanha.org.za]
Sent: Monday, May 07, 2012 11:16 AM
To: 'Public Relations'
Subject: Sanha and the Independent halaal review panel

Copy of our letter to the Independent Halaal Review panel for your information

From: Public Relations [mailto:pro-kzn@sanha.org.za]
Sent: 26 April, 2012
To: http://www.ihrp.co.za/

Subject: Invitation to the Review Panel

Attn: Mr. M Collier

The Independent Halaal Review Panel

Dear Sirs,

Assalaamu alaikum

The principle, core essence and motivation of the establishment of the IHRP was the Muslim Judicial Council?s (MJC) response to the public outcry over the Orion?s illegal labelling of Haraam as Halaal.

As SANHA was an applicant in the matter against Orion Cold Storage that precipitated the avalanche of concern over MJC's certification, we had anticipated being interviewed by your panel. In fact we believed that this would be a given imperative considering our many efforts to meet your Principals, the MJC being spurned, during and post the court proceedings and the screening of the 3^rd degree television programmes.

Please feel free to contact us if you deem it necessary to interview and/or obtain any information that will assist you in formulating your final report.

Was Salaam

Yours sincerely

For South African National Halaal Authority

EBI Lockhat

Public Relations Officer

Tel: +27 (31) 207 5768

Fax: +27 (31) 207 5793

Cell: +27 (0) 83 777 0121