Shaik Emam reveals his antisemitic bigotry

29 November 2023

Yesterday, an old anti-Jewish trope played itself out in Parliament.  NFP Member Shaik Emam tossed a bag of silver coins at the opposition benches, clearly evoking the biblical Judas Iscariot by handing over “thirty pieces of silver” at the opposition benches in an apparent biblical reference to express his disgust at parties who support Israel. 

According to Professor Emeritus, Milton Shain, “in the biblical myth Judas Iscariot was the great betrayer of Jesus. The Judas story is a fabrication but it is central to the history of antisemitism. Judas is a 'sacred executioner'. His role was in time transferred to all Jews. Jews were branded with the vices of envy, greed and disloyalty, all associated with Judas Iscariot. These stereotypes subsequently evolved into the accusations that Jews were internationalists, cosmopolitans or secular humanists - well-known charges in the history of modern antisemitism and especially in the lexicon of Adolf Hitler.”

Prof Shain points out how, ironically, Emam has now joined the company of some of the actions of far white right icons Eugene Terre'Blanche and Robert van Tonder during a protest on Church Square, Pretoria, shortly after President FW de Klerk's famous 2 February 1990 speech. Proceedings at Church Square began with the burning an Israeli flag (Star of David) and the display of a banner 'Hitler was right. Jews are communists'.  Most importantly, Terre 'Blanche and van Tonder tried to emulate the biblical Judas Iscariot by handing over 'thirty pieces of silver' to a senior police officer observing the protest. In the biblical myth Judas Iscariot was the great betrayer of Jesus.

While Emam apologised for tossing the coins, he portrayed his deep-seated bigotry. 

Issued by Charisse Zeifert, Head: Communications, SAJBD, 29 November 2023