MRN

The aspiration of the Media Review Network is to dispel the myths and stereotypes about Islam and Muslims and to foster bridges of understanding among the diverse people of our country. The Media Review Network believes that Muslim perspectives on issues impacting on South Africans are a prerequisite to a better appreciation of Islam.

Eu endorses goldstone report

by MRN
January 1, 2013July 25, 2013

PCHR welcomes Resolution by the European Parliament endorsing the Goldstone Report

(source: Palestinian Centre for Human Rights)

On Wednesday, 10 March 2010, the European Parliament adopted a resolution that backs the findings of the UN Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict (the Goldstone Report) and urges its member states to “demand the implementation of the Goldstone Report’s recommendations and accountability for all violations of international law”. The resolution calls all parties to respect international humanitarian law and international human rights law under all circumstances.

In line with the UN General Assembly resolution adopted on 26 February, the European Parliament "urges both sides to conduct investigations within five months that meet international standards of independence, impartiality, transparency, promptness and effectiveness."

Read More »Eu endorses goldstone report

Opposing apartheid

by MRN
January 1, 2013July 25, 2013

Palestine and the Experience of South Africa – with Ilan Pappe and Ronnie Kasrils

By Dr. Hanan Chehata

(source: Middle East Monitor)

Israeli historian Professor Ilan Pappe and South African anti-apartheid campaigner and former government minister Ronnie Kasrils spoke on Wednesday 10 March 2010 in the Houses of Parliament on the subject of opposing apartheid. Drawing comparisons between the oppressive nature of the former South African apartheid regime and the current Israeli government they highlighted the way forward for Palestine

Simply by looking at the title of one of his books, The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine, you can see why so many close-minded members of Israeli society made it their mission to make life so intolerable for the brave and outspoken academic Professor Ilan Pappe. So successful were they that he was forced to leave Israel, the land of his birth. Following repeated death threats and calls for him to be sacked he came to live in Britain. "Israel’s loss is our gain", as was said at this programme. Now a Professor of History at Exeter University, Ilan Pappe is an Israeli Jew and one of the foremost in the group known as Revisionist or New Historians. He focuses on uncovering the myths of Zionism and exposing it for what it really is.

Reclaiming a legacy

by MRN
January 1, 2013July 25, 2013

The Death of Fatima Meer & the World Cup

By Dave Zirin

(source: The Nation)

I journeyed to South Africa to celebrate the life of the late poet, anti-apartheid fighter, and sports activist Dennis Brutus. During my stay, another giant of the South African freedom struggle passed away: Fatima Meer. Fatima left us at the age of 81 and embodied a tireless grassroots resistance that stretched back to the 1940s. She was best known in the West as the author of Nelson Mandela’s first official biography, Higher than Hope (translated into 13 languages.) Others knew her as a renowned academic who had published more than 40 books. In South Africa, she was nothing less than iconic political royalty.

Over the course of decades, Fatima Meer confronted apartheid with storied bravery: holding vigils outside brutal political prisons, organizing marches of Indian and African women in defiance of protest bans; surviving assassination efforts after attempting to rally alongside Steven Biko. The fact that she did this as an Indian Moslem woman was, in South Africa, both unprecedented and highly influential.

Israel america foolish tricks

by MRN
January 1, 2013January 6, 2014

(source: The Guardian UK)

Politics is ultimately about interests. Morals and highfalutin principles have their place, but a more reliable truth is that governments and countries usually act in their own self-interest. Usually. The way Israel greeted the visiting US vice-president, Joe Biden, this week offers an intriguing exception to the rule, a rare instance of a state acting in a way that brings itself almost no benefit and delivers a huge amount of self-inflicted harm.

Instead of embracing Mr Biden, Israel showed him the finger, choosing the very day of his visit to announce the construction of 1,600 new housing units in East Jerusalem. That counts as an in-your-face insult to a US administration that has demanded Israel freeze all settlement activity in the territories conquered in 1967, which include East Jerusalem. Little wonder that President Obama was said to be "incandescent with anger", spending 90 minutes on the phone to his deputy drafting a statement of condemnation rare for its ferocity.