Mail & Guardian (Johannesburg) - July 20, 2001
Marianne Merten

"People must get over the stigma," he said. "God will decide when it's time to go. You could live up to 60."

The couple is supported by relatives, neighbours and Positive Muslims -- a support group founded a year ago.

January suffered a stroke which confines her to bed and members of Positive Muslims come to their home to help care for her.

Positive Muslims is the only support group of its kind in the Western Cape where the majority -- about one million -- of South Africa's Muslims live. It counsels 40 people through support meetings and a buddy system. It also conducts awareness talks at schools.

It was founded on July 21 2000 after Capetonian Faghmeda Miller could not find a Muslim organisation to help her come to terms with being HIV-positive after her husband died.

Convenor Abdul Kayum Ahmed says the perception that "Aids is God's curse" remains prevalent in many Muslim communities. "Some time ago I gave a talk at a mosque. A friend at the back overheard people say, 'I didn't know he was gay.'" "There is an assumption. You get labelled." Ahmed says pamphlets distributed at mosques about Aids were thrown away.

Positive Muslims believes in a theology of compassion -- a non-judgemental approach to people with HIV and Aids.

The Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) -- which represents most mosques in Cape Town -- is grappling to reconcile its morality to the realities of Aids.

"It's a total misconception that Muslims will never be affected. There are many cases we know of," says MJC secretary general Sheik Achmat Sedick. "There is no way we can ill-treat a patient. We are very uncompromising on the moral issue. Once the disease is contracted we are most compassionate."

But, Sedick adds, the council regards as sinners those who contravene Islam's prohibition of premarital and homosexual sex, adultery or the use of drugs and alcohol.

Last Saturday the MJC held its first HIV/Aids workshop. Resolutions dopted include establishing awareness education at madressahs (religious schools), training imams and setting up a resource network for HIV-positive Muslims.

Testing for HIV before marriage was also discussed.

The MJC was surprised by a South African bishop's proposal to relax the ban on condoms to help curb the spread of Aids. Last month Islamic countries and the Vatican successfully objected to references to gays and prostitutes in the United Nations' declaration on fighting Aids.

For the MJC, condoms outside marriage are taboo, but are compulsory when a spouse is HIV-positive.

There are no statistics on how many Muslims in South Africa, or internationally, are HIV-positive.

An informal Positive Muslim survey of Cape general practitioners in predominately Muslim suburbs in December 2000 shows each doctor treated about 10 patients who were HIV-positive.

The Islamic Careline, linked to the Gauteng-based Islamic body Jamiatul Ulema, has also noted an increase of HIV/AIDS infection. "We are having to deal with it although it is not as bad as it is in other cultures," says a counsellor, explaining infection was a result of abandoning the Islamic way of life.

Positive Muslims say religious leaders are crucial in fighting Aids and must educate themselves about the disease to help their congregations.

Imams have been advised to wear surgical gloves when washing bodies before burial. One Cape Flats imam admitted he was at a loss after recently burying two people who died of Aids-related illnesses.

The Januarys admit they underestimated the seriousness of Aids because they "were not educated" and believe there must be more openness.

"Don't be scared. Come out if you are HIV-positive," says January. "All Muslims are not the same. You get the ones that will stick with you through thick and thin."

* Not their real names
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