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Open letter to the Editor:  Polokwane Review and Observer’

Media Review Network

65 Foyle Avenue

Crosby

Johannesburg

Gauteng

Email : info@mediareviewnet.co.za

10 October 2024

 

Polokwane Review

46 Fosfaat Street

Ladine

Polokwane

0704

Joline (Group Editor): editor@nmgroup.co.za

RC (News editor): newseditor@nmgroup.co.za 

The Media Review Network (MRN) is appalled by the Caxton-owned Polokwane Review’s editorial refusal to cover any local events regarding Palestine.

Responding to a telephone inquiry on Oct 10 regarding why the paper refused to cover the Polokwane4Palestine solidarity march scheduled for 11 October, your journalist explained, ‘We were instructed not to cover any of the religious events … otherwise our paper will end up looking like a Bible’, adding  ‘even if the Catholic Church was having an event, we would not cover it’.

The community of Polokwane who feel strongly about the human rights abuses in the occupied territories of the Gaza strip and West Bank is actively involved in organizing the march to protest the ongoing genocide. The year-long Israeli war on Gaza has killed more than 42,000 civilians, orphaned at least 17000 children, and silenced the voices of some 300 journalists covering the war in targeted assassinations.

More importantly, South Africa has brought a case of genocide against Israel at the International Court of Justice, the highest court in the international legal system. South Africa’s arguments show overwhelming documented evidence that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians through its illegal occupation and war. The Hague-based court found this to be plausible and recommended provisional measures against Israel to ensure civilian protection in July 2024.

To date, the Zionist state has violated all recommendations, leading to the loss of thousands more innocent lives, which Israel continues to pursue.

The ongoing refusal of the Polokwane Review to cover these significant events in its own town that have both local and international linkages, hiding behind the false narrative of a ‘religious’ war is deceitful to the profession of journalism. Not only does it show an absolute lack of knowledge of the human rights issue that is Palestine and that affects Palestinian Christians, Muslims, and Jews (that includes the destruction of several ancient churches and mosques), but it also highlights the bigotry that permeates the corporate media in South Africa. The issue of Palestinian occupation by Israel should resonate with the moral conscience of our society.

The current situation in Palestine, marked by immense suffering and loss, demands public attention, which is what the Polokwane4Palestine march aims to bring.

As the MRN, we stand with the South African government, Jewish human rights organizations, the United Nations, the Pope and hundreds of other organizations around the world in our commitment to supporting justice and amplifying the voices of the oppressed.

By refusing to cover the Palestine events the Polokwane Review is opting for self-censorship that goes against the media mandate of fostering an informed community.

We urge you to re-evaluate your stance, particularly as the town of Polokwane reflects on its dark history of hosting British occupation camps during the South African war that killed thousands of men, women, and children.

Sincerely,

Mariam Jooma Carikci

Media Review Network

011 837 3220

 

 

 

 

 

Mariam Jooma