Shock as former Kenwyn mosque imam arrested for contempt of court
The Waterloo Road Mosque in Kenwyn.
Image: masjieds.co.za
A muslim community in Cape Town is up in arms following the arrest of former Waterloo Road Mosque moulana, Mogamat Farouk Rylands, on charges of contempt of court, with a meeting planned for last night to seek input on a community plan of action.
Rylands was arrested after he was alleged to have breached a court interdict.
He was the Imam of the mosque in Kenwyn for around 20 years, before his dismissal made headlines in 2023, when the Ashrafiah Trust, the group that oversees the mosque, took him to court after he refused to vacate his position.
In December 2023, the Labour Court granted an interdict against Rylands.
The court order included that he vacate his post as imam.
He was also interdicted from obstructing and preventing the Trust from appointing a new imam, interdicted from obstructing, assaulting, intimidating, threatening, or impeding access to any imam appointed by the Trust, and interdicted from causing damage to any equipment, furniture, appliances, or other contents at the mosque.
The order was challenged in the Constitutional Court but was dismissed.
This week, Rylands was arrested for allegedly being in contempt of the order.
In court documents IOL has in its possession, the contempt of court order cited the reasons for the order:
- Rylands allegedly shoved and pushed one of the trustees at about 8.05pm on January 1, 2026, at Magrib prayers at the mosque. It further stated that Rylands allegedly publicly and over the speaker announced the reasoning for his transgression.
- On February 6, 2026, he is alleged to have led the final prayer for Jumuah at the mosque.
The court order further stated that, for contempt of court, Rylands was sentenced to six months imprisonment wholly suspended for a period of 12 months on condition he comply with the order from 2023 within seven days.
On Wednesday, residents in the Kenwyn area were notified of Rylands’ arrest and his move to Pollsmoor Prison.
Legal expert and Director of DKVG Attorneys, Igshaan Higgins, told IOL that a mosque cannot be owned.
However, Higgins said it was revealed that Rylands, in fact, did not violate the court order.
“He didn’t disrespect the court order. He recited a prayer after salaah. That would not constitute leading a prayer. The court should get an Islamic scholar to review the issue. They cannot lawfully bar him from attending mosque or reciting a prayer, which is different from leading the prayer,” Higgins said.
He further expressed disappointment with how this matter played out.
The Kenwyn Islamic Society (KIS) expressed its disappointment in the arrest of Rylands.
“An urgent ex parte (one-sided) application is being prepared to bring Moulana Rylands before the Labour Court for a factual enquiry.
"The application will also seek an order for his release from Pollsmoor Prison. Arrangements are being made to visit Moulana Rylands at Pollsmoor to ensure his well-being, confirm that his needs are met, and update him on the legal process. A community mashura is being planned for after Maghrib at Waterloo Road Masjied this evening to seek input on a community plan of action,” it said.