South Africa Rejects ISIS-Linked Political Party

Excerpt

The Islamic State’s South African cell got its nose bloodied on July 12 when South Africa’s Electoral Commission denied it access to the ballot box.

Led by Farhad Hoomer, a US-designated terrorist, the Islamic State of Africa party did not meet the threshold of signatures it needed from registered voters and failed to announce its candidacy publicly, having only announced it in a local newspaper in Durban. The commission also noted the party’s commitment to Sharia law as a disqualifying factor. The party has 30 days to appeal.

Hoomer hopes to “bring back Sharia law” as the law of the land in a country with a Muslim community comprising less than 2 percent of the population. He has been open about his anti-democratic views, stating, “All of mankind has been enslaved by democracy and capitalism.”

Prior to the party’s rejection, a member of parliament lodged a formal complaint that the “specific choice of this name could indicate affiliation with Islamic State and its affiliates.” But the electoral commission did not mention Hoomer’s connection to ISIS when it denied the Islamic State of Africa’s application.

David May is a research manager and senior research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). For more analysis from the author and FDD, please subscribe HERE. Follow David on X @DavidSamuelMay. Follow FDD on X @FDD. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.