Masaku allegedly told students at Wits University in Johannesburg that anyone supporting the actions of Israel and the Israeli military should be exiled from South Africa. Blogs suggests that Masuku comments included “no pro-Israel Jews should ever consider South Africa to be their home.” Blogs also reported that Masuku said Zionists “must face the consequences even if it means that we will do something that may cause what is regarded as harm” and “Zionists, I don’t care whether you are at Wits or Orange Grove, your life will be hell.”
The Human Rights Commission found his comments to be “of an extreme nature that advocate and imply that the Jewish and Israeli community are to be despised, scorned, ridiculed and thus subjecting them to ill-treatment on the basis of their religious affiliation.”
Masuku was asked to make a public apology within 14 days, failing which the matter will come before the Equality Court.
Jaime Woodcock, a member of Action Palestine, said that Bongani Masuku missed the talk “to return to South Africa. He had to return to appear in court.”
The South Africa Trade Union Congress are appealing Masuku’s charges, as they believe they are without foundation and that he was charged without a hearing. Tanzil Chowdhury, Chair of Action Palestine at the UMSU said: “Charges of anti-Semitism were levelled against him because he criticised the Israeli apartheid in Gaza and the West Bank.
“Accusing anyone that criticises Israeli policies in the West Bank and Gaza of anti-Semitism is a way of removing credibility. If I was to criticise the Saudi Arabian government, I would not be accused of Islamaphobia.”
A spokesperson from the University of Manchester said: “The University is fundamentally committed to ensuring freedom of speech within the law.
“This particular event was organised by a recognised Students’ Union Society and hosted by the Students’ Union, rather than the University itself. The University sought assurances from the Student Society and the Students’ Union that the event would be conducted in an orderly fashion and that all the speakers would respect the laws of the land. The University received written assurances on both these points.”
The Vice-Chancellor did, however, ask the Union to take legal responsibility for the event when it emerged that Masuku had been charged and had to return to South Africa to appeal. President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alan Gilbert, asked UMSU General Secretary, Gabriel Hassan, to discuss the controversial speaker and asked that Hassan and the UMSU to accept full legal responsibility for the event.
The event, which was held in co-ordination with the British Committee for the Universities of Palestine, was organised to highlight the Palestine Right to Education week at the University. UMSU policy was passed at the General Meeting in March 2007 for the support of right for Palestinian citizens to have access to all levels of academia, including university education.
Ronnie Kasrils, another speaker at the event, is a former African National Congress member and fought the apartheid in South Africa. He is outspoken against the treatment of Palestinian people and Israeli policies in West Bank and Gaza. He is also of Jewish descent. Chowdhury said, “[Kasrils] is [of Jewish decent] and would not share a stage with someone who was anti-Semitic.”
“There is no empirical basis for the evidence and yet he was taken to court. The claims are unfounded and done in order to gag [Masuku].
“Action Palestine has a strong line on anti-Semitism. It’s not welcome at our meetings or in anything that we do. The idea that we would platform someone anti-Semitic is pathetic.”
“If the pro-Israeli lobby had any problem with the [academic] boycott – rather than discussing or debate it, they shout ‘anti-Semitism’.”
Ruth Arkush, Campaigns Officer for the Jewish Society, organised a protest before the event. The Jewish Society handed out Israeli drinks and leaflets objecting to the academic boycott of Israel. Security staff asked the protesters to leave.
Arkush said, “We object to the invitation that was given to Bongani Masuku to speak at last Monday’s event following his condemnation by the South African Human Rights Commission for inciting racial hatred towards the Jewish community of South Africa. These provocations that were unacceptable in South Africa are equally unacceptable in the UK.
“We were anxious that his taking part in the event would spread this hatred on campus and would foster hostility towards the Jewish students present. The fact that this kind of person was invited shows that the organisers were not interested in having a fair and even-handed debate.
“Manchester Jewish Society supports constructive engagement with Israel and the Palestinians, and oppose the extreme actions of those who desire the destruction of Israel.”
No comments:
Post a Comment