Seems to be that Suraya Dadoo is in a spin.  Her rant in Politicsweb yesterday shows a frantic woman (see here).  Clearly, the MRN feels exposed that their underlying motives are becoming so glaringly apparent.

Dadoo has launched  a tirade to defend her two bosses, evidently grasping to somehow keep some semblance of integrity or credibility for the MRN after they were exposed for trying to justify the heinous terror attacks on journalists at Charlie Hebdo earlier this month.

As will be recalled, MRN executive member Iqbal Jassat told The Star newspaper on 8/1 that "The murder of 12 people in Paris should send a clear message to the world that the lampooning of Muhammad is unacceptable.  ...Although the loss of life is regrettable, the media had repeatedly been asked not to cross this line."

The attacks were further justified by fellow MRN Executive Director Firoz Osman, who wrote, "The deliberate provocation of six million Muslims in France and the 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide through constant racial vulgarities and indignities directed at the Prophet and Islam under the guise of freedom of speech is reckless and utterly reprehensible".

So I can understand why Dadoo is feeling sensitive.  I would also be anxious if two of my executive members excused the wanton killing of innocent civilians because they didn't like what they were saying or in this case drawing.   

I would like to thank Dadoo for fastidiously transcribing my radio interview and highlighting some of the offensive remarks made in the past by Jassat and Osman. 

Since Dadoo is oblivious to the very offensive statements that the MRN have been made about Jewish people, I'm happy to elaborate for her.

The MRN has in the past proudly displayed a document entitled, "The Jewish Broedebond Syndicate" on their website, which includes numerous antisemitic canards alleging that Jews own the "Constitutional Court, the military, the media, education" and of course "South Africa's wealth".  This document alleges that the RDP would fail if "we do not get rid of this syndicate".

In an interview on Jon Qwelane's Radio 702 talk show in 1998 Iqbal Jassat and fellow guest Zafar Bangash made many defamatory allegations including that "Israeli scientists injected Palestinian children with HIV" and that "the bombings in Nairobi and Dar Es Salaam are probably perpetrated by the Israelis". 

Jassat has contributed towards "Masters of Deception: Zionism, 9/11 and the War on Terror Hoax" and recently he posted on his website (26/12/2014) as part of an article "The entire farce following the event of 9/11 which resulted in illegal wars in Muslim lands was orchestrated by a bunch of thugs in America known as neocons closely allied to and operating on behalf of Israel."

Incidentally Ms Dadoo, we enjoyed see the photo of you with Hamas's Osama Hamdan last week. Did the two of you discuss his celebrated views regarding the Blood Libel (that is, as he memorably put it, the "historical Jewish mentality has become addicted to the killing of women and children... "We all remember how the Jews used to slaughter Christians in order to mix their blood in their holy matzos")?  

Ms Dadoo thought to offer me some advice on reading material to `educate me'.  So I thought I'd reciprocate and suggest my own bit of reading material for her and for the MRN.  I would strongly suggest that she spend some time reading our country's Constitution.  In it she will find a section on the Bill of Rights detailing Freedom of religion, belief and opinion (Section 15), freedom of expression (section 16) and freedom of association (section 18).  Perhaps Ms Dadoo and her organization will pick up some insights there into the fact that as fellow South Africans we are also permitted to have our own beliefs and views. 

Ms Dadoo and her associates would likewise do well to acquaint themselves with Section 16 in the South African Bill of Rights, in which it is stated that the right to freedom of expression does not extend, inter alia, to "Advocacy of hatred that is based on race, ethnicity, gender or religion, and that constitutes incitement to cause harm."

Everyone is entitled to their opinions and the MRN certainly has some hardened anti-Israel views. What becomes problematic is when they deny other South Africans to hold their own opinions, and when they engage in racist defamation against those who disagree with them.  This is certainly not the South African way.

Wendy Kahn is National Director, SA Jewish Board of Deputies

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