Faizel Patel, 2016-06-13
The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation says there is tremendous support for jailed Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouthi for the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize.
Arch Bishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, who was himself awarded the prize in 1984 has nominated Barghouthi for the prestigious and highest international accolade.
Tutu affectionately known as The Arch, made the nomination of Barghouthi, who is also known as the Palestinian Mandela, in a letter to the Norway Nobel committee last week.
In his nomination‚ Tutu called on the committee to “seize this occasion to bring attention back to the question of Palestine and to the calls for a just and lasting peace‚ a prospect Barghouthi continues advocating and acting for‚ despite years of imprisonment and isolation”.
Speaking to Radio Islam, the Ahmed Kathrada Foundations Zaakirah Vadi says they are fully backing Tutu’s call for the nomination.
“We think that someone of Tutu’s calibre making this call is particularly important as it highlights not only the leadership of Marwan Barghouthi and his standing in the international community, but it also puts Israel’s occupation back in the spotlight and highlights the plight of thousands of Palestinians who are currently serving terms in Israeli jails.”
At the same time anti-Apartheid stalwart Ahmed Kathrada says Tutu is a global moral compass who has dedicated his life to the principles of peace‚ justice and reconciliation.
“So when this ‘moral-compass’ nominates Barghouthi for the highest international accolade‚ it should be celebrated and supported by all peace-loving individuals.”
Barghouthi was the first Palestinian parliamentarian to be arrested by Israel in 2002 and sentenced to a lifetime in prison.
His Nobel nomination has been supported by Belgian parliamentarians‚and the so-called Tunisian Quartet awarded the Peace Prize in 2015 recently dedicated their award to Barghouthi.
A campaign for the freedom of Barghouthi was made by Ahmed Kathrada from former President Mandela’s cell on Robben Island in 2013.
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