The Impact of the Iranian Revolution on Muslim Organizations in South Africa during the Struggle against Apartheid

This article explores the impact of the Iranian revolution in 1979 on Muslim communities in South Africa, a socio-political context that is profoundly shaped by the struggle against apartheid. The contribution of the Muslim community to this struggle has only been observable with the emergence of Muslim organizations with different orientations. This essay discusses whether these organizations have been influenced by the events of 1979 in Iran and in what way. It focuses on two specific organizations, Al-Jihaad and Qibla, both with a Shiite background and militant leanings who, for these reasons, have mainly been left out of my discussion. The article suggests that although the revolution has made a visible impact, it would seem that the two organizations have either not regarded an Islamic republic as a solution for South Africa, or they have not been able to offer a clear method of how to convert their revolutionary ideologies into action. Journal for the Study of Religion Vol. 19 (1) 2006: pp. 23-4