MSA Union slams Israeli Propaganda Trips

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيم

(In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful)

STATEMENT: MSA UNION SLAMS ISRAELI PROPAGANDA TRIPS

The Union of Muslim Students' Associations (MSA Union) of South Africa condemns in the strongest of terms any partaking in fully funded, courtesy trips to Israel in the interests of promoting propaganda for the Zionist agenda. 

This condemnation comes as numerous members who form a part of Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA) structures have accepted invitations to join a delegation travelling to Israel. 

This is despite the fact that just last week, a statement was released by the by South African youth and student groups slamming Israeli propaganda trips to Israel, signed by (amongst others) the President of the South African Students' Congress (SASCO). The statement explicitly states that any member of any PYA structure (SASCO, the Young Communist League and the ANC Youth League) who participates in these Israeli holiday propaganda trips will be strongly condemned and have serious disciplinary action taken against them. 

Partaking in these propaganda trips is constituting being complicit in the bloodshed of the Palestinian people. The MSA is above all else an organisation of conscientised human beings who advocate for social justice, as is enjoined by our Creator; we therefore stand in solidarity with the oppressed people of Palestine and cannot therefore sit by and let this happen.

We share the opinion of the PYA, as expressed in the statement, that holiday propaganda trips such as these are a direct response to the long-standing support of South African people to the Palestinian struggle as well as the support of the boycotts, divestments and sanctions against Israel campaign (BDS). 

Certain MSA campus chapters remain aligned with organisations comprising the PYA on their specific campuses, and we thusly reiterate the importance of ensuring that our comrades not be swayed by the lure of Israeli propaganda. 

We continue our support of the Palestinian struggle for self-determination in the name of freedom, justice and equality and, Insha Allah, with continued action and fervent prayer, may we see a free and liberated Palestine in our lifetime. 

Issued by the Union of Muslim Students’ Associations of South Africa
on 19 June 2015

For more information, contact:

Nadeem Mahomed                                

President

071 891 8722 | union.president@msa.org.za

Aaisha Dadi Patel

Head of Politics & South African and International Affairs

071 358 5104 | union.politics@msa.org.za