Justice for All Canada Honours Former SA DIRCO Minister Dr Naledi Pandor

By Ml Luqman Skink, INX Prime News and Current Affairs Editor

Human Rights organisation, Justice for All based in North America recently honoured South Africa's former DIRCO Minister Dr Naledi Pandor. Hundreds of Muslims turned up last weekend in Toronto, Canada and in Chicago in the US to hear her speak. This was followed by a gala dinner where she was honoured for her courage, strength, and action in leading South Africa’s case against Israel for genocide at the International Court of Justice.

Justice For All Canada is a leading Canadian not-for-profit human rights organization that advocates for persecuted Muslim minority communities around the world. The organisation promotes policies that protect religious freedom, address the root causes of mass displacement, and recognise the plight of refugees and forced migrants from war-torn countries and regions. Justice For All Canada has been vocal in its support for the rights of the Palestinian people and has lobbied the Canadian government to cease its aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by Israel’s illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

'South Africa is the Global Leader for Freedom & Justice'

Speaking to INX Prime, Justice For All CEO and Founder, Dr Abdul Malik Mujahid said Dr Naledi Pandor has continued the tradition of Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu before her, who established South Africa's global reputation as the leader for freedom and justice.

"700 to 800 people showed up in Chicago and the same amount of people showed up in Toronto to honour her, with multiple standing ovations for doing what 153 signatories to the Genocide Convention failed to do; and that is stand up for Palestine."

He shared how she was mobbed by people, many of them non-Muslims, who were very impressed at meeting the person who led South Africa's case at the ICJ charging Israel with genocide against the people of Gaza.

'Uniting for a Cause Greater Than Us All'

Both the Chicago and Toronto events were sold out, and because it was organised at such short notice, organisers said they ran out of space and could easily have had much larger crowds. The sheer magnitude of the work by Dr Naledi Pandor was so much appreciated by the people of Chicago and Toronto that many attendees were emotional.

"Because of South Africa, under the leadership of Dr Pandor, the ICJ became meaningful to many people who had never heard about the court. She did this when the neighbouring states of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan have chosen to remain silent in the face of Israel's brutal onslaught on the people of Gaza."

'The ICJ Case is an Important Intervention'

Dr Mujahid said Pandor's public lecture was informative, and she was very clear that South Africa's case at the ICJ will continue, even though she is no longer South Africa's Foreign Minister, until its conclusion – namely, Israel's punishment for genocide. He expressed hope that as long as this case is before the ICJ, people will continue to place moral pressure on Israel, despite the lack of an enforcement mechanism for the court's rulings.

He explained that this case has put Israel under significant pressure, to the extent that the powerful Israeli lobby has pressured the US Congress to impose sanctions on South Africa. Dr Mujahid expressed hope that South Africa's new DIRCO Minister, Ronald Lamola, conveyed to Washington during his recent visit that South Africa's case at the ICJ is a principled decision grounded in the national character of South Africa.

South Africa's Moral Authority

Dr Abdul Malik reminded the audience about the historical meeting in Gaza between Nelson Mandela and Yasser Arafat and the visit by the late South African cleric, Desmond Tutu, who declared Israel an apartheid state. However, it took decades before international human rights organisations like Amnesty International followed suit by declaring Israel an apartheid state.

"When South Africa speaks, they know what Apartheid is, and they also know how to defeat it."

During her visit, Pandor emphasised to the audience that they too have a responsibility to pressure their governments to end their support of Israel's genocide.

Multi-faith Audience

While the majority of attendees at both the Chicago and Toronto events were Muslims, people of different faiths were also present, including representatives from The Jewish Voice for Peace in Chicago and Jewish Voices for Peace in Toronto. Students participated in the programme, reaffirming their commitment to the struggle against apartheid, genocide, and occupation.

A 'Joyful' Atmosphere

Dr Abdul Malik Mujahid observed that although the programme focused on the ongoing Gaza genocide, the atmosphere in both venues was not one of sadness or mourning. He said the mood was joyful because of the power Palestinians have gained by standing up for themselves despite the thousands of bombs and the rising death toll, which he estimated to be much higher than 45,000.

"People are listening; for the first time, American public opinion is more sympathetic to Palestine than it is to Israel."

Dr Mujahid said that because of the gap between public opinion and foreign policy, there is now an opportunity for the Muslim community and other people of conscience to invest in influencing public policy to achieve the desired results.

Watch more coverage here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLfFwHkVClw