PRESS RELEASE
NO EMBARGO
01 May 2024
AL JAMA-AH CONDEMNS THE RECENT VIOLENT ATTACKS AGAINST PRO- PALESTINIAN ACTIVISTS BY LOCAL ZIONISTS IN CAPE TOWN:
Al Jama-ah Party strongly condemns the attack against Pro-Palestinian activists by local Zionists during an anti-genocide picket in Simonstown. The attack against the activists took place last week in Sun Valley. Al Jama-ah further takes strong exception to the statements that one of the female activists would have been subjected to rape “because she is beautiful”.
“No South African should tolerate or condone gender-based violence,” says Adv Shameemah Salie, National Spokesperson for Al Jama-ah.
A video clip is circulating on social media clearly identifying the perpetrators and their attack on the protestors.
On Monday, 29 April 2024 Salie was briefed on the matter and says Al Jama-ah will continue to provide support to the complainants. “We are well aware that the threats have been extended as far as attempts to silence individuals speaking up against Zionism and the genocide being perpetrated against Palestinians,” says Salie.
Al Jama-ah says that “weaponizing gender-based violence within a society where violence against women is endemic, is unacceptable, and intolerable.” The party says a strong message must be conveyed to stem violence that is used to quell the rights of freedom of expression, especially when it comes to support for the Palestinian cause. The attacks by the Zionist antagonists are thus viewed in a very serious light.
Regarding the criminal charges laid against the perpetrators, Al Jama-ah is concerned that although the complainant lodged a complaint at the Fish Hoek SAPS on 23 April 2024, an investigating officer was only assigned to the matter on the 28th of April. It
has been more than a week since the incident and despite evidence against the perpetrators, those accused have yet to be arrested and charged.
The docket number is Ref Number CAS 122/4/2024.
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