The Western Cape Muslim Undertakers Forum has dismissed reports and speculation that the vandalism incident at the Mowbray Muslim Cemetery was an act of satanism.
Last Wednesday morning, staff arrived at the cemetery to find gravestones ripped out of the ground and arranged in an upside down cross, in what was thought to be an occultist ritual.
A tip-off led police and neighbourhood watch members to the slopes of Devil’s Peak where a stash of vases, a bag of flowers and a yellow picket fence, believed to have been stolen from the cemetery, were found on Friday.
A stolen headstone was returned to a relieved family on Saturday.
The Muslim Judicial Council has called the desecration an act of Islamophobia.
Spokesperson for the undertakers’ forum, Ebrahim Solomon, said they conducted their own investigation out of concern for their members and the Muslim community.
He complained that there seemed to be no attempt by those speculating on social media to follow due process in finding suspects or collecting evidence for prosecution.
“None of these findings has been handed over to police, yet links have been made to satanism and desecration of the Mowbray cemetery,” he says.
“There has been no confirmation of satanism, nor concrete evidence to suggest it.
“The people who have expertise in demonic possession and related matters have also not suggested anything.
“We hope that anyone who has any evidence or theories will contact the investigating officer at Woodstock Police Station.”