Fairness, integrity key to Zanzibar’s unity, Othman says
ZANZIBAR: ZANZIBAR’S First VicePresident, Mr Othman Masoud Othman, has urged leaders and citizens to uphold integrity, justice and respect for human rights, saying everyone has a responsibility to promote fairness and ensure equal treatment in society.
He made the call during a visit to Masjid Kariim in Uweleni, Mkoani District, South Pemba Region, where he joined Muslim worshippers for Friday prayers and addressed the congregation.
“Zanzibar had, for centuries, earned an international reputation for the good character, honesty, generosity and hospitality of its people, qualities that attracted visitors from different parts of the world,” Mr Othman said.
He recalled that several foreign visitors and scholars who travelled to Zanzibar in previous centuries documented their experiences in books, praising the islands for their peace, stability, hospitality and harmonious social relations.
However, he expressed concern that some of these longstanding values were gradually being eroded by certain practices within society, including among Muslims, warning that injustice and violations of people’s rights were becoming increasingly worrying.
He said acts of injustice often began with seemingly minor incidents but could develop into more serious problems if left unchallenged.
He said Islam provided comprehensive guidance on justice, good conduct and social responsibility, noting that Muslims had a duty to encourage one another to do good, remind each other of their religious obligations and speak out against wrongdoing.
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Speaking at the same occasion, the mosque’s Friday preacher, Sheikh Omar Abdalla, condemned discrimination among Muslims, describing it as a serious wrongdoing prohibited by Allah through the teachings of the Holy Quran and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
He warned that discrimination could pose a serious threat to national unity and social stability if allowed to spread, urging believers to reject practices that promote division, humiliation and unequal treatment.
Sheikh Abdalla called on Muslims to uphold justice and fairness at all levels of society, saying these values were essential for sustaining lasting peace and stability. He also reminded leaders of their responsibility to serve the people with kindness, fairness and compassion.
