So was South Africa's first gay friendly mosque,burnt down by arsonists who were not happy what the mosque stood for?
The controversial first gay-friendly mosque, which also allows Christian worshippers
and women to lead prayers, was damaged by a fire overnight, its founder and the police said on Saturday.
and women to lead prayers, was damaged by a fire overnight, its founder and the police said on Saturday.
"This is a deliberate arson attack. They used petrol and oil," he said adding close circuit television video footage showed that unidentified people had made several reconnaissance trips to the mosque two hours before the attack.Taj blamed his opponents for the attack which occurred on the eve of the celebration of the Muslim feast of Eid al-Adha.
But Hargey remains defiant."Instead of preparing for the holy day these people were preparing to destroy the house of God ... it's very sad, disrespectful," he said.
"They cannot shut us down, they can try whatever they want," he said. "They have tried verbal intimidation, threats and now arson, this should be the last. Our opponents should know that they don't have a copyright on Islam."Andre Traut, police spokesman for the city, said they "are investigating the circumstances surrounding the fire".
The mosque, which welcomes gay people, Christians, and treats men and women equally, opened peacefully in Cape Town last month amid opposition and threats of violence.