We are members of the Muslim community of South Africa. It has come to our attention that an email has circulated that calls for a boycott of Jewish-owned businesses in South Africa as a response to the Israeli attack on Gaza. We note that no representative Muslim organization nor the various Palestine Solidarity organizations have supported these anonymously circulated messages.
We are horrified and angered by the Israeli attack and the massacre of civilians. In contrast to the widely promoted view that Hamas broke the cease fire, the Israeli Defence Force broke the truce on 4 November 2008 with a raid into Gaza that killed six persons alleged to be members of Hamas. We condemn Israel’s loose definition of legitimate targets, which has included the education, interior and foreign ministries, the parliament building, a hospital, a UN compound and UN schools. Since the Israeli invasion of Gaza started on 27 December 2008, over 1300 Palestinians and 13 Israelis have been killed.
Wilfully and indiscriminately attacking civilian targets is a crime against humanity regardless of who commits it. We therefore condemn all such attacks and support a mutually agreed upon ceasefire. We also agree with calls for the immediate and complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, the lifting of the siege of Gaza and an end to the Occupation. Palestinians living throughout the West Bank, Gaza and Israel should be given full and equal civil rights.
While we remain committed to various acts in solidarity with Palestinians, we are nevertheless appalled at the occasional manifestations of anti-Semitism in our community. We do not believe that the injury and destruction suffered by the Palestinians should be an excuse for anti-Semitism among us. All racism, including anti-Semitism, is deplorable.
We therefore reject the demand to boycott any businesses in South Africa or elsewhere simply because their owners are identified as Jews. To single out Jews for any kind of attack or action in this manner is racism, something that all of us deeply detest and many of us have fought against for much of our lives. Our condemnation does not preclude support for a boycott of Israeli, settler produced products or local and international companies that support the Occupation. It is, however, unacceptable to link such a boycott to the ethnicity of people living in South Africa. Not only does such a call sully the history of our community’s struggle for equal rights during apartheid, but it also tarnishes the struggle for freedom and justice for the Palestinians.
Let us not become the evil that we abhor.
Endorsed by:
- Prof Farid Esack
- Rahma Mohamed
- Faizel Slamang
- Prof AbdulKader Tayob
- Prof Abdur Rashid Omar
- Abdul-Aleem Somers
- Drs Muhammed Haron
- Prof Ashraf Kagee
- Shafika Isaacs
- Lutfi Omar
- Imraan Buccus
- Muhammed Desai
- Firdouza Waggie
- Mahdi Samoudien
- Mahier Samoudien
- Hassan Khan
- Maulana Shuaib Appleby
- Mariam Abrahams
- Subeiga Krishna
- Jamiel Krishna
- Coco Cachalia
- Ahmed Essop
- Nadia Meyer
- Hakeem Meyer
- Nuraan Fakier
- Faisal Fakier
- Jasmine Small
- Sheraads Small
- Amiena Slamang
- Rukeya Slamang
- Dr Gabeba Baderoon
- Nazir Osman
- Mogamat Salih Davids
- Rashieda Baderoen-Davids
- Zubeida Jaffer
- Raoul Ridwaan Swart
- Thoeria Mollagee
- Mohammed Sujee
- Prof Aslam Fataar
- Faiza Salie
- Prof Shireen Hassim
- Abubakr Karolia
- Reza Bardien
- Fatima Hassan
- Muhammad Bodhania
- Ahmed Essop
- Ms Rehana Kader
- Adila Hassim
- Dr. Anwar Bulbulia
- Huda Tayob
- Ebrahim Fakir
- Nuruh Davids
- Mohsin Waja
- Fatima Bhyat
- Dr Sadiyya Shaikh
- M.F. Cassim
- Dr Shuaib Manjra
- Ebrahim-Khalil Hassen
- Rassool Snyman
- Shaheed Mohammed
- Washiema Mohammed
- Mogammad Gasan Mohammed
- Ebrahim Mohammed
- Shuaib Mohammed
- Amirah Maryam Mohammed
- Prof Adam Habib
- Quraysha Yousuf
- Rashid Yousuf
- Raisa Mahomed
- Naadia Davis
- Rushaan Abrahams
- Khalid Shamis
- Jeff (Jaffer) Jawitz
- Fathima Jani
- Maksood Ahmed Jani
- Fatima Asmal
- Khadija Asmal
- Dr Julie Jaffer
- Yasmin Sindhi
- Ilham Banoobhai
- Mubeen Adam Jaffer
- Sakina Grimwood
- Ilham Rawoot
- Yasmeen Dinath
- Wadeedah Jaffer
- Mohamed Mia
- Ebrahim Mahomed
- Nadeem Mahomed
- Rashaad Fortune
- Armien Cassiem
- Rafeeq Bosch
- Shafiq Morton
- Ruxanna Banoobhai
- Mohammad Groenewald
- Midi Achmat
- Ahmed C Motala
Of those businesses in South Africa, how mush of that money goes to the country which stands for racism, oppression and destruction of the native people of Palestine. Palestinians are also Semitise so I disagree that I am anti-semetic. I stand against anything and anyone who contributes to the Racist illegal Zionist State of Israel. I stand against any entity that profits or benefits from this Racist State. Ask Ramond Ackerman how much of his profits go to buy F16 and Uranium to poisen the innocent children of Palestine.
Nauczylem sie wiele
And do not forget those among us (also listed) who are linked to the American CIA, who support the US fight against Al-Qaeda (read Islam) . They know who they are but the mongoose will kill the snake … mafi shaq!
In the list above there is at least one paid SPY for the CIA. Guess his name. Soon we shall flood the Internet with his identity. He takes Allah’s enemy as friends over the believers. We have evidence. He knows what I am talking about. He should call me. He and his American bosses know my contact details.