Cii News – June 25, 2012

A newly established network of concerned South Africans called Islamic Awakening has taken the lead in opposing the granting of the Cape Town – Freedom of the City Award to US president Barack Obama.

A spokesperson for the group, Moulana Khalid Dhorat, called on people to forward letters denouncing the move to them in order for a collective effort to be presented before the South Africa government. So far over 1700 letters have been collected.

Cape Town Mayor, Patricia De Lille, has taken the decision to give the award to the US president. The matter has now proceeded to the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs for deliberations with the Mayor and for final decision making.

Moulana Dhorat called on people to forward letters of opposition to the following email, ntoacsa@gmail.com.

“Send in your letters,” he told Cii News. “There is a lot of weight behind it. It is the weight of Haq, it is the weight of truth. Even if the (SA) Presidency, because of international political pressure, decides to award Barack Obama with the Freedom of the City award, we will be able to say that when there was a cause to stop oppression this was our small contribution.”

The US President has been the hallmark of a foreign policy characterised by ongoing international warfare and death. He has sanctioned drone strikes in the remote areas of Yemen, Pakistan, Somalia and Afghanistan that has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians including women and children.

The drones have also eliminated a number of leaders from anti-US groups operating in these countries extra-judicially, completely ignoring the laws of justice. He also continues to support Israel is its unjustifiable occupation of Palestine.

“As soon as we receive the letters we will forward it to the relevant departments (in the South African government)”, said Moulana Dhorat. “They should know that we are not speaking from a position of isolation. This is an effort of collusion where we are working together.”