Qiyaam for Gaza, 11 July 2014, at your Masjid!

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Two days ago, the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) has, once again, embarked on a campaign of brutalisation and murder of the innocent Palestinian population of Gaza under the banner of its “operation protective edge” In the past 48 hours the IDF has demolished numerous homes and city structures, murdered 76 Palestinians, including 7 children, with numbers increasing every minute and this operation has injured scores more. The pretext put forth by the IDF is to stem the acts of resistance in the form of rockets from the besieged coastal sliver. A similar pretext was used to launch Operation Cast Lead in which 1400 Palestinians were massacred. Yet the primary reason for these brutal acts of violence against innocent Palestinian civilians is solely due to the Israeli Apartheid regime which fails to acknowledge the true origins of the resistance, i.e. the occupation of ALL of Palestine. 

During this month of Ramadhaan, our brothers and sisters in Palestine are continuously and currently being brutally attacked and are being subjected to both human and physical losses. This may leave many people with a feeling of frustration and helplessness at what could be done to assist in any way possible.We are reminded of the wise words of our Nabi Muhammad (SAW): “Du‘a is a weapon of a Muslim, a Pillar of Deen and the light of the skies and earth.” [Narrated by Hakim from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah and Abu Ya’la from Sayyiduna ‘Ali al-Murtudah, Hadith 6163] and the Words of Allah (SWT) in the Holy Qur’aan: And your Lord says: Call upon Me, I will answer you." [Surah Mu’min, Verse 60]

We are, therefore, calling for

1)     The mobilisation of our communities to collectively supplicate and plead to Allah to ease the suffering of ours fellow Ummatis by embarking on a Qiyaam for Gaza (#QiyaamforGaza) this Friday, 11 July 2014, after Taraweeh Salaah, at which ever Masjid you are praying.

What is a qiyam? Qiyam is an extra prayer offered after ‘Esha Salaah at night. During the Salaah after Ruku of the last Raka'at ’, one is able to ask Allah to assist and liberate the people of Palestine. If prayed in congregation, everyone is able to share the same call, begging Allah to shower His Mercy and Aid upon the Palestinian people.

2)     To dedicate and recite a special Surah Yaseen before Maghrib Salaah at your organization/MSA Chapter’s Mass Iftaar with a mass Dua asking Allah to ease the plight of Palestinians and all those who are oppressed.

The Prophet S.A.W explained the nature of his Ummah by describing us as one body. Considering the sacredness and centrality of this month, we would like to push for a global Qiyaam for Gaza just as there was for Syria and Burma.

We trust that you will join hands with us in prayer as we pray to Allah to help ease the pain and suffering of our brothers and sisters. Join us in utilizing what Nabi (SAW) has said to be one of the most powerful weapons of a believer!

Twitter : @MSA_Union

Facebook: MSA Union

Email: info@msa.org.za

Hashtag: #QiyaamforGaza

Please approach your local masjid to have a Qiyaam & email us the confirmed venue (info@msa.org.za) so it can be advertised. Shukran.

Humanitarian Crisis Unfolds on our Doorsteps

We the undersigned, representatives of the Muslim Lawyers Association (MLA), Palestine Solidarity Alliance,  Muslim Students Association, Islamic Medical Association of South Africa  and the Media Review Network, are deeply concerned, shocked and angered at the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the platinum belt of the North West Province. The tentacles of the crisis have reached far beyond Marikana and will have far reaching implications for all South Africans.

A joint decision has been taken by the above organisations to alert the South African public in general and the Muslim population in particular to spare no effort in urgently mobilizing all resources at our disposal to alleviate the plight of the families of the striking miners. The industrial action on the mines has affected the lives of over 500 000 South Africans across the length and breadth of our country.

We acknowledge with gratitude the readiness of the Al Imdaad Foundation and their swift response to facilitate the collection and distribution of the aid.

Our banking details are: First National Bank
Name: Al Imdaad Foundation
No: 62102373206
Br.Code: 220325
Ref: Platinum Feed

Contact person:  Mohammed Saloojee:  073 9847860  msaloojee@gmail.com

Let us not forget the fast approaching winter months and remember the devastating effects  the severe weather conditions will have on the destitute members of our community.

Thank you.
1. Muslim Lawyers Association. (Yousha Tayob- 082 9265408 yousha@telkomsa.net )
2. Muslim Students Association. (Yusuf Talia- 071 6772391 yusuf.talia@msa.org.za )
3. Palestine Solidarity Alliance. (Ismail Moola– 0837548900 i.moola@absamail.co.za )
4. The Media Review Network SA. (Zaakir Mayet- 084 786 4003 zaakirahmed@gmail.com ) )
5 Islamic Medical Association of South Africa. (Dr. Yakub Essack- yessack@@global.co.za )

Media Spokesperson: Ibrahim Vawda. 072 295 0088 011 837 3220 (o)

And worship Allah and associate naught with Him, and show kindness to parents, and to kindred, and orphans, and the needy, and to the neighbour that is a kinsman and the neighbour that is a stranger, and the companion by your side, and the wayfarer, and those whom your right hands possess. Surely, Allah loves not the proud and the boastful. (Ch4:V.37)

Statement: MSA Union Supports Egypt Anti-Coup Pro-Legitimacy Protest.

Statement: Union of Muslim Students’ Association of South Africa support the call by The Anti-Coup Pro-Legitimacy National Alliance and the Egyptian community in South Africa

23rd January 2014

The Union of Muslim Students’ Association of South Africa (MSA Union) - in our commitment to support the oppressed peoples in the world and to advocate for social, political and economic justice -  support the call by the anti-coup pro-legitimacy national alliance and Egyptian community in South Africa. The anti-coup pro-legitimacy national alliance is a “movement that emerged in response to the violent Coup that took place in Egypt a few months ago. A coup that has Overthrown the first democratically elected president, committed merciless massacres, silenced opposing voices, abolished the peoples will that has been mechanized through five different democratic elections and referenda, abrogated all gains of the January 25 Revolution and reinstated Mubarak's authoritarian regime”.

MSA has witnessed the events unfold in Egypt with great dismay as the democratically elected President Dr Muhammed Morsi was illegally removed from his office by a military coup. We take a position that supports legitimacy in Egypt. The banning of the Muslim brotherhood is indeed a travesty of justice. The revolution on January 25th was a historic moment in time when world watched Hosni Mubarak step down and the hope for democratic process was born in the hearts of every Egyptian citizen.

We commend the people of Egypt, many of whom youth and students who sought freedom, liberation, justice, and the right to self- determination in the initial protests against the brutal Mubarak regime. We also commend those who have refused to participate in the recent military sponsored referendum. The oppressors have claimed the right to rule, ousting a legitimate president, pretending democracy. We reflect on the words of the poet Voltaire who said, “Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.”

We celebrate the courage of the people of Egypt who are rising up against oppression and in honouring our fellow comrades we demand accountability from their oppressors and stand in solidarity with the citizenry who are taking a stand against the illegitimate military regime. We also stand with members of the Muslim Brotherhood and anti-coup protestors that are currently undergoing imprisonment and torture at the hands of the same regime.

MSA Union supports the peaceful protest taking place on Saturday, January 25th, 2014. This day will be commemorated internationally on the anniversary of the revolution. Our alliance seeks the support of diverse array of groups in South Africa. We encourage the wider South African community and our constituency to support this action in the spirit of Justice as Egyptian people strive against dictatorship. 

              

Statement issued by MSA Union of South Africa

For more information, contact:

Yusuf Talia, President - MSA Union of South Africa, Yusuf.Talia@msa.org.za

Raeesa Ghoor, Secretary General - MSA Union of South Africa, raeesaghoor@gmail.com

The Muslim Students' Association (MSA) was established in 1973. It has grown to be one of the largest student representative bodies in South Africa. The MSA aims to assist in developing students and creating an active citizenship. This is done by developing structures to create a national and influential student representative body, leadership development programs, advocating for social, political and economic justice through campaigns, social projects and humanitarian initiatives that are all student based.

We thank Iram Yousuf for her contribution to this statement.

Statement : Union of Muslim Students’ Associations’ of South Africa support the call to Action against the US Foreign Policy and Rejection of Obama Visit to South Africa

27 June 2013
 

We as the Union of Muslim Students’ Associations’ of South Africa would like to reaffirm our utmost rejection of the criminal visit of the United States of America (USA) President, Barack Obama to our country. We declare our support for stance taken by the Muslim Lawyers Association (MLA) and the efforts of our compatriots in the coalition, standing firm in rejecting Obama’s Visit to South Africa and against the decision taken by the University of Johannesburg to award an Honorary Degree to the President of the USA.

The award of an Honorary Degree is done by the resolution of the Council and of Senate of an institution of higher learning on the grounds of his or her distinguished contribution to learning or by resolution of the Council on any other grounds noting that the contribution of the person in question is not viewed in isolation but is assessed in a holistic context. We fail to understand how the USA's arrogant, selfish and oppressive foreign policies, continuous unfair treatment of workers, international trade relations deeply rooted in war mongering, colonial racism and the disregard and destruction of the environment and incapacity in making the realization of a just and peaceful world possible are sufficient basis to even ‘honour’ the President of the USA, Barack Obama.

In the words of the Freedom Charter of South Africa, “our people have been robbed of their birth right to land, liberty and peace by a form of government founded on injustice and inequality”. As South African youth, after 19 years of democracy, can attest that we have still not healed from the wounds of the oppressive apartheid regime.

We find it ludicrous that the main cheerleader of a regime led by the Israeli government, which unequivocally resembles the social, political and economic construct of the South African apartheid regime that has raped the inhabitants of this land from actualizing their true potential is being ‘honoured’ for his distinguished contribution to the progressive development of society.

We find the continued support by the Obama administration of the USA, to Israel and its apartheid policies, enough bases to disqualify Barack Obama from being acknowledged with an Honorary Degree by any South African public institution of higher learning.

As a representative of the youth intelligentsia of this country, we find the contradictions between what is universally understood as a fair basis to award an Honorary Degree to the track record of the USA President, Barack Obama an insult to our intelligence for the following reasons:
• The championing and maintenance, by the USA, in the militarisation of international relations and co-operation. It is a well-known fact that the USA approaches a lot of conflicts on the world through inciting, encouraging as well and championing war, primarily driven by its business interests often masqueraded in the language of defence of human rights.
• The continued greed in the guzzling of world resources by the USA epitomized by its encouragement and support of its multinational companies that have no regard for the environment, human rights like progressive labour laws.
• The USA’s active support and defence of colonial and oppressive regimes.
• The United States of America role in contributing to the destruction of the environment, as being the single largest contributor to global warming, which increasingly condemns the world into catastrophic environmental disasters.

Often accused of acting from an intellectually baseless standpoint, we would like to humbly request that the Chair of the University of Johannesburg Honorary Degree Committee and the Vice Chancellor to assist us in understanding the terms fair, holistic and precedent because using these terms, our conclusion of the decision by the University of Johannesburg to award the USA President, Barack Obama with an Honorary Degree:
• Has undermined the value of a South African Honorary Degree.
• Is setting a dangerous precedent which other public institutions of higher learning might pursue in future, further undermining the value of a South African Honorary Degree.
• Is an insult to all South Africans by ‘honouring’ the main cheerleader of a regime which has been described as a replication of apartheid South Africa?
Furthermore, as a representative of the youth intelligentsia of this country, we reaffirm the stance of South African Communist Party (SACP), the Young Communist League of South Africa (YCL), the South African Students Congress (SASCO),the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU), the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), Friend of Cuba Society (FOCUS), Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel in South Africa (BDS South African), and the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU).

We Call Upon All Peace and Justice Loving citizens to take the streets in Action against The United States Foreign Policy, and Against University of Johannesburg Decision to award Obama an Honorary Doctorate at an” Appropriate Occasion”.

We reaffirm the demands issued the Coalition:
• The Immediate Release of Our Friends of Cuba
• The Immediate Closure of Guantanamo Bay and the Release of the Innocent
• The Immediate Withdrawal of Support to Morocco who continue to colonise Western Sahara
• The Withdraw of AFRICOM
• Cease US/NATO warmongering in Syria and elsewhere
• Close GITMO
• Respect Privacy of Networking. Stop Snooping!

Lastly, the Union of Muslim Students’ Association of South Africa urge our compatriots in the coalition and broader civil society to raise our issues and stress that our National Government are to hear and understand our demands, in order for them to pressure the United States to honour our demands. In the main, the peoples of South Africa through the efforts of solidarity and the struggle for self-determination and the right to live freely and justly, has championed the liberation movement.

We see it fit that South Africa as an Emerging Power, An Ambassador for Africa and a Key Role Player in the South, who undeniably has also been negatively affected and limited in its action by the foreign policies of imperial powers. Nonetheless as a leadership of developing world, our National Government must play more of active role in championing the representation of demands and further ensuring their demands for the people of the Africa, Middle East and Latin America. If South Africa can champion that, then South Africa will be recognised as the true leader of the South.

In the name of Justice, Freedom and Equality; we must stand for the entire world and her people against imperialism and oppression, amongst others. As long as the USA President, Barack Obama continues to rule in a manner and support a regime that undermines the Freedom Charter of South Africa, his presence on South African soil is unwelcomed and an insult to the very people still recovering from the wounds of apartheid South Africa.

Statement issued by Yusuf Talia, President and Sumayya Omar, Political Officer of the Muslim Students’ Association Union (MSA Union)

Yusuf Talia: yusuf.talia@gmail.com / 071-677-2391
Sumayya Omar: sumz01@hotmail.co.za / 076-331-5299

STATEMENT: Union of Muslim Students' Association of South Africa Endorses the cultural boycott on Israeli Independence day on the 15th of April 2013

                                          

The Union of Muslim Students' Association South Africa (MSA Union), in our commitment to justice, freedom and equality, endorses and pledges full support to the boycott and protesting of the celebration of Israeli Independence Day.

Yom Ha'atzmaut, which is known as Israeli Independence Day, will be taking place on the 15th of April 2013 to celebrate the 65th anniversary of Jewish State which came into being by ethnic cleansing, dispossession and the massacre of the indigenous Palestinian population. The celebration of Israeli Independence will be taking place this year at the Lyric Theatre in Gold Reef City, in which both South African and Israeli Musicians and choirs will be partaking in the event- namely the Wits Choir - in a concert entitled "The Miracle of Israel: A Symphonic Celebration."

The cultural boycott calls all supporters of peace and justice in society to join the protest, and urges artists taking part in the concert to cancel their acts, as the concert clearly defies the international boycott-of-Israel line by accepting funding and sponsorship from official Israeli sources such as El Al, IUA, UCF and the Israel Centre, and secondly by hosting Israeli artists who have not distanced themselves from Israel's occupation and apartheid regime.

In the spirit of resistance, unity and success which we have gained from the epoch of Israeli Apartheid Week this year, the MSA Union and individual MSA chapters has realised the importance of furthering our stance on the Palestinian struggle in the name of freedom, justice and equality.  We believe that supporting a principled boycott and pledging solidarity must be reinforced by being more active in our stance.

MSA Union, along with Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel in South Africa (BDS South Africa),  South African Communist Party(SACP), COSATU, Young Communits League , Coalition for a Free Palestine, Media Review Network (MRN), Palestine Solidarity Alliance (PSA), South African Artists Against Apartheid, StopTheJNF South Africa, Tuks Palestine Solidarity Committee, Wits University Palestine Solidarity Committee, South African Students Congres (SASCO) and Kairos Southern Africa, has endorsed the statement released by StopTheJNF and Kol Tsedek South Africa, to reaffirm our support and endorsement of the cultural boycott on Yom Ha'atzmaut, and we encourage all our members, constituents and supporters to do the same and partake in the protest.

For more information, contact 0714565104 or 0842119988.

Statement issued by Yusuf Talia, President and Sumayya Omar, Political Officer, of the MSA Union of South Africa

Yusuf Talia: yusuf.talia@gmail.com / 071-677-2391

Sumayya Omar: sumz01@hotmail.co.za / 071-456-5104

STATEMENT: MUSLIM STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS ISRAELI APARTHEID WEEK

The Muslim Students’ Association of South Africa (MSA) - in its commitment to justice, freedom and equality – has pledged its full support to the 9th international Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW) campaign. IAW is a global series of events and campaigns that take place in cities, campuses and communities across the world and aims to raise awareness of Israel’s apartheid policies towards the Palestinian people and serves to promote Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel. IAW will take place from the 11 - 17 March in South Africa.

MSA realises the massive importance of IAW in furthering the Palestinian struggle for liberation and thus, in addition to support, is playing an active role in the campaign by forming part of the IAW national steering committee. We will also be hosting events and campaigns on our campuses across the country.

In the spirit of IAW we will reaffirm our stance on Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions as a constructive means of achieving liberation for the people of Palestine. BDS is a global movement that aims to isolate Israel until it complies with international law and ends its apartheid policies. We realise, in addition, that we, as a Muslim community in particular, need to move away from the charity framing of the Palestinian struggle and acknowledge that this is a political story of resistance against oppression and all forms of other injustices that violate basic human rights.

MSA acknowledges and echos many of our South African leaders and struggle icons such as: Ahmed Kathrada, Kader Asmal, Blade Nzimande, Zwelinzima Vavi and Winnie Mandela who have compared Apartheid South Africa to current day Israel. We also acknowledge cases made by the SA Human Sciences Research Council, Russell Tribunal on Palestine and the United Nations Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination that support this comparison.

MSA has joined numerous other organisations, including: South African Union of Students, Jamiat-Ul-Ulema, Congress of South African Trade Unions, Muslim Judicial Council, ANC Youth League and South African Council of Churches in its support of IAW. We lend our support to IAW in the same spirit that we do for the people of Sudan, Burma, Syria, Zimbabwe and other people who are victims of injustice and oppression. Indeed, this principled spirit will continue to be our approach to the Palestinian struggle.

In addition, we urge all our chapters, constituents and supporters to participate and get involved in Israeli Apartheid Week on your campuses, communities and cities.

For more information on IAW South Africa and ways to get involved, see the link here: http://www.bdssouthafrica.com/2011/02/israeli-apartheid-week.html.

For the complete IAW South Africa schedule, you can view the link here: http://www.bdssouthafrica.com/2011/02/iaw-2013-full-schedule-and-speaking.html

Statement issued by Yusuf Talia, President and Sumayya Omar, Political Officer of the MSA Union of South Africa

Yusuf Talia : yusuf.talia@gmail.com / 071-677-2391

Sumayya Omar: sumz01@hotmail.co.za / 071-456-5104

**The Muslim Students' Association (MSA) was established in 1973. It has grown to be one of the largest student representative bodies in South Africa. The MSA aims to assist in developing students and creating an active citizenship. This is done by developing structures to create a national and influential student representative body, leadership development programs, advocating for social, political and economic justice through campaigns, social projects and humanitarian initiatives that are all student based.