Dear Friends of Ahmed Kathrada and the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation,

South African anti-apartheid struggle icon, Ahmed "Kathy" Kathrada, has just returned from a one week solidarity visit to Palestine (see: http://tinyurl.com/bp4sbzu). On his return Kathrada wrote an open letter to the Hollywood actor, Mr Morgan Freeman. Find the letter from Ahmed Kathrada to Morgan Freeman below this email or here: http://tinyurl.com/bn28g3w

Ahmed Kathrada's letter urges Morgan Freeman not to accept an Israeli Hebrew University award, it was one of many letters that were sent to Freeman in-line with the international boycott of Israel, other letters include:

- A letter from Palestinian civil society: www.pacbi.org/etemplate.php?id=2146

- A letter from group of progressive Israelis: http://boycottisrael.info/content/israeli-citizens-asking-morgan-freeman-turn-down-hebrew-university-honor

- A letter from Mbuyiseni Ndlozi of BDS South Africa: www.bdssouthafrica.com/2011/04/letter-south-africans-write-to-morgan.html

- A letter from Palestinian students at Israel's Hebrew University: http://tinyurl.com/cgvu6r5

- Letter from the Dorothy Cotton Institute: http://tinyurl.com/cxyagf9

- Letter from the USA (from a coalition of more than 400 US organizations: http://endtheoccupation.org/downloads/USCampaign_Morgan%20Freeman%20Appeal.pdf

- Finally, more than 8,300 people from 83 countries around the world (along with more than 60 organizations from Austria, the UK, Canada, Cyprus, Ireland, Jordan, Malaysia, Morocco, Puerto Rico, Sweden, South Africa and the United States) signed this online letter to Morgan Freeman: http://org.salsalabs.com/o/641/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=13268

Ahmed Kathrada spent 18 years as a political prisoner on the notorious Robben Island with Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki and others. During his incarceration on Robben Island, Kathrada received the African National Congress' highest accolade, the Isitwalandwe Award. Kathrada also served as the political advisor to President Nelson Mandela during and was until recently the chairperson of the Robben Island Museum Council. Ahmed Kathrada resides in Johannesburg with his partner, the former Minister of Public Enterprises and also a political detainee, Ms Barbara Hogan.


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Neeshan Bolton
Executive Director

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
www.kathradafoundation.org
 
 
 
 



Ahmed Kathrada Foundation
Signet Terrace Office Park
Block B, Suite 2
19 Guinea-Fowl Street
Lenasia, 1827

06 May 2013
 
Dear Morgan - Friend of Democratic South Africa,

Allow me to introduce myself.

My name is Ahmed Kathrada.

I first met you in person when I had the privilege of guiding you on your visit to Robben Island some years ago. I was sentenced to life imprisonment together with Madiba and others in the Rivonia Trial, 1963/1964. After 18 years, together with Madiba and 3 others, I was transferred to Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town where I spent the rest of my 26 years imprisonment.

On Robben Island I reminded you of the film of your prison escape “Shawshank Redemption” which made a huge impact on many of us.

I also met you in Los Angeles when Samuel L. Jackson bestowed on me an award on behalf of Artists for a New South Africa. At the same event, La Tanya presented an Award on my partner (and former prisoner) Ms. Barbara Hogan. In my mind, your presence once again confirmed you as a great friend of the new South Africa.

And this was followed later by Invictus.

What has prompted my letter to you has been the surprise that you are being given the “Key of Knowledge Award” by the Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University Jerusalem!

What immediately came to mind were the words of Madiba: “…But we know too well that our freedom isn’t complete without the freedom of the Palestinians…”

I would have hoped that before you accept the award, you would have paid a visit to Palestine. I had heard and read a lot about the plight of the Palestinian people. The Russell Tribunal of imminent persons from different parts of the world have condemned Israel as an “Apartheid State.”

Last Friday, I returned from Palestine after spending a week there. To me, it was confirmation of a people living under worse forms of colonial rule, under Israel as a Colonial power, ruling under permanent conditions of Martial Law.

I was born in a South Africa that regarded people who were not white as lesser human beings. I have seen sign boards outside elevators and buildings that read “Non Europeans and dogs not allowed,” thus reducing those of us who were not white to the level of animals.

I have now personally witnessed the plight of the Palestinian people. They are living under conditions of permanent Martial law. I came back convinced that Israel is indeed an apartheid state. And in certain respects it is worse that apartheid.

Under the worst of apartheid times there were no roads strictly reserved for whites! There were no checkpoints manned by armed soldiers to ensure that Palestinians don’t break the restrictions. There wasn’t a 750 kilometer-wall, encroaching on Palestinian land, to separate Israel from Palestinians. There were no new settlements springing up with impunity on Palestinian land. I can go on and on about an experience that will forever remain in my mind.

Finally, I am unable to comprehend how quickly Israel has forgotten the Holocaust, during which millions of Jews and thousands of Communists, gypsies, homosexuals, Russians perished. In 1951 I visited Auschwitz Concentration Camp, and saw what atrocities one set of human beings could perpetrate on another.

Forgive me for this lengthy email. It’s because my experience of Palestine is still fresh in my mind.

Warm regards,
 
A.M. Kathrada

[FIND THIS LETTER ONLINE: HTTP://TINYURL.COM/BN28G3W]