South Africa – Features

Three South Africans will attempt to climb Mount Kilamanjaro – the highest free-standing mountain in the world – to raise funds for Palestinian children affected by war. Durban-based dentist, Muhammad Ridwaan Khan, and Gauteng electrical engineers, Nadim Mahomed and Muhammad Taher Khan, form part of an international team that will undertake the physically and mentally demanding journey to the top of Kilamanjaro from 2-12 July.

The expedition has been organised by the humanitarian group Muslim Hands as part of their annual Green Ribbon Week, an annual international fundraising initiative that raises awareness of the plight of children living in war-torn regions. The funds raised by the Kilamanjaro trip will be donated to children in the decimated Gaza area. Last year’s Green Ribbon Week project saw 60 people scale the Great Wall of China in aid of children in Lebanon, Afghanistan, Iraq and Sudan.

“We hope that by personally challenging ourselves physically and mentally to reach the top of Africa, we can motivate and inspire others to join us in this challenge to raise as much money as possible for Gaza’s children of war,” said Muhammed Taher Khan.

The group aims to raise R250 000 which will be used to provide food, medicines, educational supplies and trauma-counselling for Gazan children. Members of the public that would like to contribute to this cause can deposit funds directly into the following account:

Account Name: Muslim Hands

Bank: Standard Bank

Account Number: 071 621 881

Branch: Parow – 031110

Please indicate in the reference the Donor ID 933393 and type of donation (Zakaat/ Lillah/ Sadaqah) so that the money can be processed accordingly. E-mail your payment confirmation to zaid@muslimhands.co.za to receive official acknowledgement for your contribution.

While the trio have managed to secure some sponsorships, a substantial part of their trip expenses have not been covered, and they are appealing to the public to help them meet these costs before 17 June. Donations towards the trip costs can also be deposited into the same account, indicating ‘SPONSORSHIP’ as reference. Please note that no charity (ie. Zakaat, Lillah, Sadaqah) donated will be used to fund the trip costs.

Team-members will keep the public updated by blogging about their experiences on http://kilimanjaro4gaza.blogspot.com. Facebook users can also join the Kilamanjaro Expedition group on http://www.facebook.com/groups.php?ref=sb#/group.php?gid=72443843013

For more media interviews, photographs and more information, contact:

Muhammed Taher Khan

Ph: (Work) (016) 960 5288

       (Home) (011) 486 0331

       (Cell)    082 535 1201

E-mail: muhammad.khan@sasol.com

 

Nadim Mahomed

Ph: 082 221 2312

Muhammad Ridwaan Khan

082 664 8898

Zaid Ali 

Phone: (011) 830 2955

Email: zaid@muslimhands.co.za

Read More »Press release three south Africans to scale kilamanjaro for charity

More than 50 Israeli lawmakers have voted in favor of a draft resolution authorizing the Israeli occupation government of confiscating properties of Palestinian Jerusalemites and those of the 1948-occupied lands involved in retaliation attacks against IOF aggressions against the Palestinian people.

According to the Hebrew radio, Gedion Saer, the extremist Israeli lawmaker of the rightist Likud party drafted the resolution that gained the blessing of 50 Knesset MPs against 13 members who opposed it in its first reading.

The resolution becomes a law only if it is approved by the second and third reading.

"The resolution is meant to serve as a deterrent [to the Palestinian Jerusalemites]", said Saer in justifying his racist proposal.

The Knesst also approved in the first reading another racist draft resolution presented by member of the ruling Kadima Party Yuhanan Plenssier authorizing the Israeli occupation authorities of canceling residency permits of families of Palestinian resistance fighters and those extending help to them.

He said that the law will deter Palestinian Jerusalemites from giving aid to Palestinian resistance fighters.

The Israeli occupation government had taken a number of measures against Palestinian Jerusalemites, including denying them building permits, and imposing high taxes against them among other measures with the aim to force them out of the city.

A week ago, a Palestinian Jerusalemite driving a bulldozer killed three Israeli settlers and wounded tens others in western part of Jerusalem before Israeli policemen gunned him down.

According to Palestinian records, the IOF troops killed close to 500 Palestinian citizens, many of them children and women in Gaza Strip and the West Bank since the start of this year.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Palestinian citizens from Beit Hanena demonstrated against the apartheid, separation wall that divided the land of their tiny town.

Palestinian children participating in the rally planted a number of Palestinian flags on their land in an apparent message to the Israeli occupation that the land was and still is a Palestinian land.

In 2004, the International Court of Justice in The Hague ruled that the wall was illegal and must be demolished immediately, but the Israeli occupation undermined the ruling and persisted in constructing the wall.
 

 

Read More »Israeli knesset endorses another racist law against palestinian jerusalemites

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Forced Removal of Palestinian Families Reminiscent of Former Apartheid Regime
 
 (source: Hamsayeh.Net)

The South African government issued a harsh statement criticizing Israelis for their planned housing  constructions in East Jerusalem. The statement condemned Israeli for forcefully evicting Palestinians from their homes comparing such actions to the ‘forced removals’ of the apartheid era by the former racist government of South Africa.

 We condemn the fact that Israeli settlement expansion in East Jerusalem is coupled with Israel’s campaign to evict and displace the original Palestinian residents from the City," the statement said. "South Africa is deeply concerned that these activities by Israel will only serve only to deepen the cycle of violence in the region."

Read More »South Africa strongly condemns Isaraeli actions in east jerusalem