South African deputy president greets Muslims

South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma has wished Muslims throughout the world well on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr which was celebrated this weekend with the sighting of the new moon.

Eid-ul-Fitr is a culmination of the month-long experience of Ramadan where Muslims are required to fast from sunrise to sunset.

"The month of Ramadan is a reminder to all that spiritual uplifting is intrinsically linked to social uplifting. The spiritual regimen imposed on Muslims during the Holy month of Ramadan is designed to cultivate in man a sense of humanity and to enable him to develop a social conscience."

Zuma said the event was the culmination of a month in which the focus was on fellow human beings who were less fortunate and underprivileged.

He said Muslims in South Africa had played a significant role in the struggle for freedom and justice.

"Enormous sacrifice were incurred in order to give birth to our emerging democracy.

"Today, as we stand on the threshold of a new era, our struggle has entered another dimension. The struggle now is one of rebuilding the nation after centuries of social devastation caused by apartheid as well as helping Africa to regain its leading place in the world community," he said.

He said the watershed elections in 1994, which ushered in democracy in South Africa, secured the rights of all religious denominations, and conditions have been created for all religions to practice and flourish without any fear of discrimination.

"We call upon the Muslim community to avail themselves of this opportunity to consolidate their religious expression.

"A strong and practicing community of Muslims will certainly have a positive impact on the social fabric of this nation," he said.