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MUSLIMS HIT AT RETAILERS OVER LABELLING OF PIGSKIN
*Warnings should be much more prominent, says MJC*
The Muslim Judicial Council has hit out at leading clothing stores for failing to clearly indicate
leather and suede garments made of pigskin. Muslims may not eat pork or touch items made from pigskin.
But a Cape Argus survey found that Edgars, Truworths, Foschini, and Woolworths, which enjoy a high level of Muslim support, often the only pointer to such clothing is inside the garment or on a swing ticket attached to the price tag. This could not be seen before the garment had been touched. Shamiela Hassiem of Athlone unknowingly bought a pigskin jacket from Woolworths recently. She discovered it was pigskin only after deciding to check the care instructions inside.
"There was absolutely no way I would wear it after I found out and I returned it. I didn't even want to touch it," she said.
Senior MJC member Moulana Yusuf Karaan said stores should be more sensitive towards Muslim customers. "It is the duty of the MJC, as the major halaal certifying body in the Cape, to contact these stores and suggest (that they) make more announcements to people regarding their goods made from pigskin, and to monitor the situation if possible," said Karaan. He also called on Muslim customers to make their voices heard. " They should insist that the managers
of the stores place notices in bold writing and in prominent places, with the purpose of warning
Muslims."
Woolworths spokeswoman Jolande Stoltz said the company was already doing this. " Our men's jacket have a swing ticket and the women's jackets a tag inside. In addition, we are putting up A4 signage above all our pigskin garments," she said.
Truworths, which occasionally imports pigskin garments, also has a swing tag policy.
Foschini group managing director Dennis Pollack said his stores shied away from stocking such clothing, but when it did so the items always had information on the outside. Edgars merchandise executive Veronique Shera said: "Sometimes the label is inside the garment, sometimes outside. It depends on the supplier. "It would obviously be preferable for all the clothing to be labelled on the outside as a safeguard."
Karaan said Hassiem had handled the situation correctly. "If a Muslim is ignorant of any clothing
being made from pigskin, there will be no sin attached to wearing it," he said.
"When they discover it to be pigskin, it will be incumbent on him or her to get rid of it immediately."
Jews are also prohibited from eating pork, but Chief Rabbi of South Africa, Cyril Harris said: "We can derive other benefits from the animal but prefer not to, as it would mean it would have suffered. "This applies to all leather. That is why, on Yom Kippur(Day of Atonement) we must abstain from wearing an such items."
MUSLIMS HIT AT RETAILERS OVER LABELLING OF PIGSKIN
*Warnings should be much more prominent, says MJC*
The Muslim Judicial Council has hit out at leading clothing stores for failing to clearly indicate
leather and suede garments made of pigskin. Muslims may not eat pork or touch items made from pigskin.
But a Cape Argus survey found that Edgars, Truworths, Foschini, and Woolworths, which enjoy a high level of Muslim support, often the only pointer to such clothing is inside the garment or on a swing ticket attached to the price tag. This could not be seen before the garment had been touched. Shamiela Hassiem of Athlone unknowingly bought a pigskin jacket from Woolworths recently. She discovered it was pigskin only after deciding to check the care instructions inside.
"There was absolutely no way I would wear it after I found out and I returned it. I didn't even want to touch it," she said.
Senior MJC member Moulana Yusuf Karaan said stores should be more sensitive towards Muslim customers. "It is the duty of the MJC, as the major halaal certifying body in the Cape, to contact these stores and suggest (that they) make more announcements to people regarding their goods made from pigskin, and to monitor the situation if possible," said Karaan. He also called on Muslim customers to make their voices heard. " They should insist that the managers
of the stores place notices in bold writing and in prominent places, with the purpose of warning
Muslims."
Woolworths spokeswoman Jolande Stoltz said the company was already doing this. " Our men's jacket have a swing ticket and the women's jackets a tag inside. In addition, we are putting up A4 signage above all our pigskin garments," she said.
Truworths, which occasionally imports pigskin garments, also has a swing tag policy.
Foschini group managing director Dennis Pollack said his stores shied away from stocking such clothing, but when it did so the items always had information on the outside. Edgars merchandise executive Veronique Shera said: "Sometimes the label is inside the garment, sometimes outside. It depends on the supplier. "It would obviously be preferable for all the clothing to be labelled on the outside as a safeguard."
Karaan said Hassiem had handled the situation correctly. "If a Muslim is ignorant of any clothing
being made from pigskin, there will be no sin attached to wearing it," he said.
"When they discover it to be pigskin, it will be incumbent on him or her to get rid of it immediately."
Jews are also prohibited from eating pork, but Chief Rabbi of South Africa, Cyril Harris said: "We can derive other benefits from the animal but prefer not to, as it would mean it would have suffered. "This applies to all leather. That is why, on Yom Kippur(Day of Atonement) we must abstain from wearing an such items."
for letting us know.