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Muslim Judicial Council president, Shaikh Riad Fataar, will not be cowed by the Zionist lobby in this country which has embarked on yet another campaign to silence voices calling for the liberation of Palestine.
by NONTOBEKO AISHA MKHWANAZI
On September 1, 2024, Palestinian journalist Youmna El-Sayed visited Bo-Kaap, Cape Town, as part of her tour in South Africa which was organised by Salamedia. The tour aimed to raise awareness about the ongoing plight of Palestinians under Israeli occupation.
During the gathering, Muslim Judicial Council (MJC), President Shaikh Riad Fataar expressed his unapologetic support for Hamas. He declared to the attendees who gathered in solidarity with the people of Palestine:
‘I am Hamas, Cape Town is Hamas. We support Hamas because it follows the Qur’anic verse in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:190), where Allah commands: “Fight those who fight you”.’
His words immediately drew widespread attention with many Palestinian supporters commending his stance while Israeli supporters condemned it as dangerous and inflammatory.
On Thursday September 5, the South African Jewish Report (SAJR) published a front-page article titled ‘Top SA Muslim Leader says: ‘I am Hamas’, condemning Shaikh Fataar’s endorsement of Hamas. The article labelled Hamas as a terrorist organisation and criticised both Shaikh Fataar and the MJC for aligning themselves with such a group.
Despite the backlash, in an exclusive interview with Muslim Views, Shaikh Fataar stood firm, citing that he will not be phased by those who continue to support the inhumane treatment of the people of Palestine.
‘As the Muslim Judicial Council, we support Hamas. I stand by my position as an advocate for the oppressed, particularly the Palestinian people who have long been subjected to occupation and suffering. Hamas is a liberation movement representing the Palestinian struggle for self-determination and freedom from Israeli occupation. And I believe that the Palestinian people have the right to resist occupation and defend their land’.
Shaikh Fataar clarified that his support for Hamas was not an attack on Jews but a stance against Zionism.
‘The support for Hamas is not an attack on Jews. Historically, Muslims and Jews have lived together peacefully’.
‘Our fight is against Zionists who continue to kill and torture hundreds of Palestinians every day and we cannot ignore their suffering.’
The SAJR article also highlighted concerns by Willem Els, a Senior Co-ordinator at the Institute for Security Studies, regarding Shaikh Fataar’s remarks. Els states that the Shaikh Fataar’s public announcement could potentially inspire individuals to commit acts of violence.
However, Shaikh Fataar dismisses these allegations, framing them as part of a broader attempt to silence support for Palestine.
‘This is the colonialist mindset, where the oppressed are demonized for standing up against their oppressors. We cannot change the narrative to suit our whims when the truth is plain for everyone to see. Palestinians are being treated like animals by Apartheid Israel’.
Several organisations have rallied behind Shaikh Fataar, with Al Quds Foundation South Africa (AQFSA) being one of them.
In an interview AQFSA Administrator, Shaikh Shaid Esau, says everyone has a right to defend themselves and their country.
‘By international law, the United Nations recognizes Palestinian land as occupied, and the people of Palestine have a right to self-determination.’
‘Israel cannot label Hamas as terrorists, when they are fighting for their freedom. We stand with them. The claims that Hamas is committing genocide against Israelis and does not want peace have been debunked. The world sees through these false narratives.’
Shaikh Esau further criticised Israel’s attempts to control the global narrative around the conflict.
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‘The Israeli government tries to shift focus away from the atrocities they commit. They continue to repeat lies about Palestinians, but the truth has already been revealed through numerous investigations. No one believes those claims anymore, yet Israel keeps making the same noise.’
He also highlighted the importance of understanding who is behind the labelling of Hamas as a terrorist organisation and what are the motivations behind this.
‘Who has the right to call Hamas terrorists? The US, the same country complicit in the genocide against Palestinians? Remember, during the fight against Apartheid in South Africa, we were labelled as terrorists too. But the world did not see that they saw us as people fighting for our freedom and hence they supported us. We too ought to do the same.’
The ANC in the Western Cape has also voiced its support for Shaikh Fataar.
In a statement issued by ANC WC Provincial Secretary, Neville Delport, he noted that this is the latest attack in a smear campaign targeting those who dare to speak out against Israeli Apartheid or exercise their right to support Hamas.
‘Shaikh Fataar exercised his constitutional right to free speech in announcing his support for the Palestinian resistance movement. Hamas is recognised by the South African government as a legitimate political organisation in the Palestinian struggle for self-determination. Those who call for an end to the genocide must not be labelled as extremists or terrorist sympathisers.’
The ANC also reiterated its solidarity with the people of Palestine and the MJC.
‘Shaikh Fataar is not only at the forefront of the struggle for a free Palestine but is also a leader in building support for vulnerable communities here in the Western Cape. The MJC’s work in this campaign and their broader efforts must be applauded. We will continue to support the fight against tyranny and oppression in Palestine.’
Mufti Sayed Haroon Al Azhari, Head of the Cape Town Ulama Board, echoed these sentiments, emphasising the importance of speaking out against injustice.
‘The Cape Town Ulama Board fully supports Shaikh Riad Fataar in his stance of solidarity with the Palestinian people.
‘We believe it is crucial for religious leaders to raise their voices against oppression, genocide, and injustice. All South Africans must unite and work towards a free Palestine. We cannot allow ourselves to be silenced by Zionist entities.’
The Jamiatul Ulama of KwaZulu-Natal (JUKZN), endorsing Shaikh Fataar’s statement, was also unequivocal in its support for Hamas:
‘Hamas is a legitimate liberation movement aiming to secure Palestinian independence and sovereignty. Not only does it serve as a beacon of hope for the occupied Palestinian people, but also for all free-loving Muslims throughout the world. Its bold and commendable resistance to illegitimate occupation is an inspiration to all those who desire to cast off the yoke of neo-colonialism. On that score, we are all Hamas.’
Pointing to the continued exploitation of the Global South, which goes back centuries, the JUKZN declared that the ‘younger generation within these societies call for true decolonisation’ and find common ground with Hamas which is ‘opposed to one form of enslavement with yet another’, making reference to the sham Oslo Accords which was signed between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organisation in 1993:
‘Hamas’ political vision finds support in the Global South. Hamas’ battle with the occupiers has ramifications for not only the region, but for power dynamics globally. Hence efforts by Western powers to demonise Hamas through their media outlets comes as no surprise. So in relation to global power imbalances, we are all Hamas.’
While those pushing the Zionist narrative in this country resort to smear tactics, Shaikh Riad Fataar remains unwavering in his commitment to the Palestinian cause, with supporters rallying behind him in the struggle to end Apartheid Israel.
