Ahmed Munzoor Shaik Emam has been denied a visa to attend an event in Palestine for apparently no reason Photo De Rebus
South Africa – Visiting Palestine has become an arduous task, particularly for high-profile individuals who speak out against the injustices faced by the Palestinian people. Ahmed Munzoor Shaik Emam, a founding member of the National Freedom Party and a Member of Parliament, was invited on an official visit to Palestine but his visa has been denied by Israeli authorities with no specific reason.
Emam received an invitation to attend the 75th anniversary of the Nakba, which is being held in Ramallah, Palestine on the 28th until the 31st of July. Both he and president of the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania, Mzwanele Nyhontso, were invited by President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestine Liberation Organization.
Although Emam is a diplomatic passport holder and submitted his application timeously, having followed the rules and regulations, his visa was denied a few hours before he was supposed to leave. This treatment not only affected him but also highlighted the broader issue of diplomatic visas for Palestine.
“Myself and Honourable Nyhontso submitted our applications. He got a response yesterday afternoon to say he applied too late. In my case, I applied on time. There’s been no queries. Nothing of that nature. All I was going to do was attend the conference. I had to give them a full list of my itinerary, on every road that I was going to be using, where I was going to be staying, when I was going to visit, who I was going to visit and all that kind of stuff. I provided them with all that only to hear yesterday afternoon, I was supposed to fly out last night, I was informed by DIRCO that I have been denied a visa. More importantly, Honorable Nyhontso was treated very badly. They asked him to leave the embassy and wait for them in the parking lot. Even for the application that he made, and they did treat him very badly.”
According to Emam, Nyhontso was made to stay in the parking lot with officials coming out to get the necessary documents and pictures as they needed. They also informed him that even if he was given a diplomatic pass, it might not be enough. The Minister of Interior could turn him away in Tel Aviv and send him back home.
Vocal Advocacy for Palestinian Rights
One of the likely reasons Emam believes his visa was denied is because of his outspoken advocacy for Palestinian rights. He has taken a strong stance against Israeli policies and has championed the cause of the Palestinian people. This bold approach has garnered international attention and support.
“I’m not surprised [my visa was rejected]. I was concerned whether they would allow me entry and I think it’s more important because I’ve been very vocal about the Palestinian cause and rightfully so. I think it is all emanated from the fact that for the first time somebody had taken a stance against the Israelis which, with all the support and the money they provide and pump into South Africa, they did not expect us to pass. and that was the motion to downgrade the South African Embassy in Israel to a liaison office. That was the first thing and subsequent to that, we’ve now achieved the issue of Palestinians visa-free entry into South Africa. We’ve also asked the government to deal with the financial flows which are unaccounted for. No measures or mechanisms in place to monitor how much goes out from South Africa to Israel.”
Adding to this, Emam has also raised concerns about South Africans who have been going to Israel to train with the Israeli Defence Force and gaining dual citizenship. This is viewed as a direct threat to South Africa.
The Role of DIRCO
While Emam’s visa denial is not an isolated incident, the response from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) is crucial. As diplomats and parliamentarians are treated poorly by the Israeli embassy in South Africa, DIRCO needs to take a strong stance and protect the interests of its citizens. An issue that Emam will take up with DIRCO once Naledi Pandor, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, is back from her conference in Russia.
“I have been in touch with the deputy minister yesterday. We’ve had some engagements and discussions on it and he’s very unhappy about what is happening, but he said to me it’s the norm. The Israelis conduct themselves in this manner time and time again. He’s also of the opinion that indeed it’s time that we treated the Israelis the way they treat South Africans. You cannot allow them to have a free for all in South Africa. The way they treat our South Africans, I’ve spoken to some of the staff at DIRCO and I can tell you now, they said they don’t ever want to go back there. That’s how badly they were treated. I think the Israelis believe they are above the law. They can do as and what they want even on South African soil.”
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Israeli influence in South Africa
The financial influence and support from Israel towards certain political parties in South Africa raise concerns about potential interference in domestic affairs. Israel’s divide-and-rule policy, coupled with financial resources, can sway political opinions and potentially impact elections in the country. For Emam, these parties and those who joined the IDF must be rooted out.
“We know that many political parties are receiving a lot of financial assistance from Israel. We need to be mindful of that even when we’re going towards the election because they’ll want to overturn all the gains that we have made in trying to bring Israel to account for the atrocities that they are committing. Another thing we have to pursue now, and I know there have been some criminal charges laid a while ago, we need to intensify that and work on that but more importantly all those that have trained in the Israeli military, which may have been part of committing atrocities against the Palestinian people need to also be charged in South Africa. We also need to treat the Israelis with the contempt they deserve.”
The case of Emam and Nyhontoso exemplifies the challenges faced by those who stand up for Palestinian rights. The incident highlights the need for diplomatic reform and increased pressure on Israel to address its actions in Palestinian territories. The South African government and DIRCO must take a decisive stance to ensure equal treatment and accountability for all parties involved. The struggle for justice in Palestine continues, and it requires collective efforts from governments, diplomats, and individuals worldwide.
Ahmed Munzoor Shaik Emam spoke to Inayet Wadee on parties benefiting from Israel as well as the need for the government to act decisively and swiftly. Listen to that discussion here:
