Islam in the Public Sphere in Post-Apartheid South Africa: Prospects and Challenges

Abstract

The Islamic presence in South Africa dates over three centuries.
Islam has mostly been the private affair of Muslims who lived in
harmony with non-Muslims in “Indian” or “Coloured” public
spaces, and engaged with them in political struggles against
various White minority regimes. Islam has been brought into the
national public sphere more manifestly in democratic South
Africa. The activities of the vigilante group People Against
Gangsterism and Drugs (PAGAD) in the Western Cape, 9/11 and
the “War on Terror”, and heightened salience of Islam as a
religious and cultural force in the lives of ordinary Muslims
have increased its public visibility to a level disproportionate to
population numbers. The veil, beard, dress are all visible
denoters of Muslims identity. Boundaries are being
(re)constructed around various points of contact: between men
and women, Muslims and non-Muslims, Muslims and the state,
Islam and secularism, and so on. This drawing of boundaries is
not a movement of protest but one aimed at reinforcing religiocultural
identity as part of a broader process of religious revival.
This paper explores the intense exposure and reaction of the
small Muslim community to the public gaze. It also examines
divisions among Muslims on a range of issues, calling into
question the notion of “Muslim community”.

Journal for Islamic Studies Vol. 27 2007: pp. 116-149