Police probe Durban man over Isis flag at his home

21 November 2015 - 10:36 By Naledi Shange, News24
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now

A case has been opened against a Pinetown man alleged to have erected an Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) flag on his property, Durban police said.

"We can confirm that a case of Contravening Section 3 of the Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorist And Related Activities Act was opened at Pinetown Police Station. No arrest has been made at this stage," said Major Thulani Zwane. 

Zwane told News24 that he could not shed any light on what the possible outcomes were if the suspect, Julian Eric Moore, was found guilty.  

"I have never dealt with a case relating to this charge," Zwane said, adding that such incidents were rarely reported. 

Zwane said he could not immediately say who had opened the case against Moore. 

Earlier this week, News24 spoke to Moore. He denied erecting the flag and claimed conspirators had snuck into his garden and climbed a tree to erect the flag. At the time, the flag had been taken down.  Despite the picture of his flagged house going viral on social media, Moore said he saw no problem with flying the Isis flag.

'When I saw it I just laughed'

He said he had discovered it on a post in his garden and had found it funny. 

"When I saw it I just laughed because this is not even serious. Actually I can’t even see the flag from my property," he said.

A week ago, more than 120 people were killed in Paris in a wave of terror attacks for which ISIS claimed responsibility.

Moore said ISIS had caused no trouble in South Africa.

"They are not a listed terrorist organisation in South Africa and there is nothing wrong with them here. People hang the old South African flag and no one makes a big deal about that," Moore added.

But when speaking to The Witness, Moore said his name was actually Fazwaz Bashir, and he readily admitted to raising the ISIS colours.

He reportedly said: "They are bombing our comrades in Ar-Raqqah and Syria. We must retaliate."

His view on the old national flag also seemed fluid.

"Some people fly the old South African flag and people are getting angry about it. You don’t have to look if you don’t want to. This is not another flag that looks like an ISIS flag, it is the ISIS flag," he said at the time. 

Source: News24

subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now