DEFILING A MOSQUE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19720, 20 August 1927, Page 13

DEFILING A MOSQUE.

WASHING OF A CORPSE. STRANGE COURT ACTION. Mr. H. Haslam, S.M., was called upon to decide an unusual case at ■ Adelaide recently, -when Goolam Rasoul, who described himself as the Mullha, or priest, of the local Mohammedan mosque, brought an action against Shiek Abdul Kader. It was stated that Kader, an interpreter and trader, washed a dead body in the bathroom used by worshippers for ablutions prior to entering the mosque, afterwards taking it into the main hall. This, it was alleged, defiled the room, the custcm being to wash corpses in the yard. For three months the faithful had been unable to use the bathroom and to cleanse it the priest would have to have the plaster scraped from the walls and replaster them and perform various rites at a cost of £2 2s. Kader, who conducted his own defence, swore on the Koran that in washing the corpse he had followed the instructions of two comrades, who were well versed in the Mussulman religion. He did not recognise the authority of plaintiff, who was really not a Mullha, but only a caretaker. After much confused testimony in almost unintelligible mixed_ English, the magistrate gave judgment for the plaintiff for £1 10s.