Internet Halaal row

14 Feb 2011

Rumours about a popular halaal restaurant in central Cape Town have spread like the stench of old meat through much of the Muslim community.

An e-mail claiming that Eastern Food Bazaar, a popular restaurant in the CBD that specialises in Indian and Eastern food, was not halaal and was lying about where it got its meat has spread like a virus.

"Now for those of you who thought this was random posting, nah nah nah," the e-mail read. "[Eastern Food Bazaar] has been playing shady cards with Muslims since its opening."

According to restaurant manager Magedien Lategan, 80% of his customers are Muslim and, on a busy Saturday, between 4000 and 5000 people pass through his doors.

"Why would we want to jeopardise our business by selling unhalaal food to our customers - most of whom are Muslim?" he asked.

After the Muslim Judicial Council and the Islamic Council of SA, the two halaal certification bodies, received calls about the authenticity of the e-mail, representatives of the Islamic Council inspected the restaurant on Friday, 11 February 2011.

The council's vice-president, Sheikh Thafir Najjaar, said: "There seems to be some confusion about from where the restaurant gets its meat.

"They changed suppliers. The new supplier is certified with the Muslim Judicial Council.

"According to our inspectors, everything is okay and I would like to reassure customers that the restaurant is halaal compliant."

Lategan said that the restaurant had posted a statement on its website: "Eastern Food Bazaar ... will endeavour to ensure all food that is served conforms to the halaal standard as set out by the Islamic Council of SA.

"To ensure that you, the customer, is satisfied ... we have requested all documents regarding halaal certification from all our suppliers."

"We buy between 800kg and 1t of meat a week and decided to buy from another supplier because the quality of meat is better."

Source: The Times

Source: I-Net Bridge

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