Hizbullah (Mauritius)
Encyclopedia
Mauritian Solidarity Front (in French
Front Solidarité Mauricien also known by its acronym FSM & ex-Hizbullah) is a predominantly Muslim
political party
in Mauritius
trying to represent the island nation's sizable Muslim minority. In the 2010 general elections in Mauritius, FSM's won one historical parliamentary seat through its leader Cehl Fakeermeeah.
Until 2004, the party was known as Hizbullah (Party of God) (no relation to the Lebanese party Hezbollah).
The fortunes of the party are closely related to its leader Cehl Fakeermeeah. In 1992 Cehl Fakeermeeah announced the formation of Hizbullah. He was born in Mauritius in 1958. He began to teach the Qur'an to groups of children in the local mosque when he was 15. At 21, he won a scholarship to Umm Ul Qura University in Makkah where he studied Islamic jurisprudence and returned to Mauritius in 1991.
Here he entered political life, working with Hizbullah. He inaugurated a primary school and over 50 Islamic centers around the island where Arabic and Qur'anic studies are taught. He also initiated free drug-detoxification programs in response to increase in trafficking of street drugs in the Muslim areas. Because of his popularity he alongside another party member became counselers in the municipal elections of 1996.
He ran for the elections in 1992. He had a sizable percentage of the votes, but failed to be elected. In 1995 however, Hizbullah won one seat in the Parliament through Imam Beeharry, a preacher at the Noor-e-Islam mosque in Port Louis
. However at the legislative elections
of 11 September 2000, the party lost the seat. In the general elections of 2010, one seat was won through Cehl Fakeermeeah.
In December 2000, Hizbullah leader Cehl Fakeermeeah was arrested and accused of involvement in the murders of three Mauritian Militant Movement
(MMM) members just before the island's 1996 parliamentary elections. The UK based Islamic Human Rights Commission
(IHRC) adopted his case declaring him a "Prisoner of Faith" and considering his arrest a direct result of his political opposition It also expressed concerns about his treatment in detention.
Cehl Muhammed Fakeemeeah was then pronounced innocent after 3 years of alleged tortures in detention. Thousands of people were gathered on the day of his liberation at Plaine-Verte. A rally was organised in his support.
In April 2010, He was accused of sexual relationship with a minor.
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
Front Solidarité Mauricien also known by its acronym FSM & ex-Hizbullah) is a predominantly Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
trying to represent the island nation's sizable Muslim minority. In the 2010 general elections in Mauritius, FSM's won one historical parliamentary seat through its leader Cehl Fakeermeeah.
Until 2004, the party was known as Hizbullah (Party of God) (no relation to the Lebanese party Hezbollah).
The fortunes of the party are closely related to its leader Cehl Fakeermeeah. In 1992 Cehl Fakeermeeah announced the formation of Hizbullah. He was born in Mauritius in 1958. He began to teach the Qur'an to groups of children in the local mosque when he was 15. At 21, he won a scholarship to Umm Ul Qura University in Makkah where he studied Islamic jurisprudence and returned to Mauritius in 1991.
Here he entered political life, working with Hizbullah. He inaugurated a primary school and over 50 Islamic centers around the island where Arabic and Qur'anic studies are taught. He also initiated free drug-detoxification programs in response to increase in trafficking of street drugs in the Muslim areas. Because of his popularity he alongside another party member became counselers in the municipal elections of 1996.
He ran for the elections in 1992. He had a sizable percentage of the votes, but failed to be elected. In 1995 however, Hizbullah won one seat in the Parliament through Imam Beeharry, a preacher at the Noor-e-Islam mosque in Port Louis
Port Louis
-Economy:The economy is dominated by its port, which handles Mauritius' international trade. The port was founded by the French who preferred Port Louis as the City is shielded by the Port Louis/Moka mountain range. It is the largest container handling facility in the Indian Ocean and can...
. However at the legislative elections
Elections in Mauritius
Elections in Mauritius gives information on elections and election results in Mauritius.Mauritius elects on national level a legislature. The National Assembly has 70 members, 62 elected for a four year term in 21 multi-member constituencies and 8 additional "best loser" members appointed by the...
of 11 September 2000, the party lost the seat. In the general elections of 2010, one seat was won through Cehl Fakeermeeah.
In December 2000, Hizbullah leader Cehl Fakeermeeah was arrested and accused of involvement in the murders of three Mauritian Militant Movement
Mauritian Militant Movement
The Mouvement Militant Mauricien is a socialist political party in Mauritius. The party was formed by a group of students in the late 1960s. The MMM is currently led by Paul Bérenger....
(MMM) members just before the island's 1996 parliamentary elections. The UK based Islamic Human Rights Commission
Islamic Human Rights Commission
The Islamic Human Rights Commission is a non-profit organization. Its stated mission is to, "... work with different organizations from Muslim and non-Muslim backgrounds, to campaign for justice for all peoples regardless of their racial, confessional or political background.". The group is...
(IHRC) adopted his case declaring him a "Prisoner of Faith" and considering his arrest a direct result of his political opposition It also expressed concerns about his treatment in detention.
Cehl Muhammed Fakeemeeah was then pronounced innocent after 3 years of alleged tortures in detention. Thousands of people were gathered on the day of his liberation at Plaine-Verte. A rally was organised in his support.
In April 2010, He was accused of sexual relationship with a minor.