Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News, 2014-09-11

Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) South Africa and the Palestine Solidarity Alliance (PSA) has won a court battle against billboard advertising company Continental Outdoor Media in the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg on Thursday.

The case related to the company’s removal of a series of billboards taken out by BDS and PSA highlighting the Israeli occupation in the form of maps depicting a shrinking Palestinian territory by an increasing Israeli occupation over the years.

Beneath the maps, “Palestine Loss of Land – 1946 to 2010” was printed in bold letters.

Continental Media came under severe pressure from the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD), South African Zionist Federations (SAZF) and Israeli lobby to remove the billboards resulting in a high court application by BDS South Africa.

“It’s a wonderful victory, both for BDS South Africa, The Legal Resource Centre, and also for the thousands of supporters across the country that have been backing this campaign,” Mohammad Desai the national coordinator for BDS South Africa told Radio Islam.

In handing down judgment, Judge Mayat declared the removal of the billboards as illegal and unconstitutional and ordered Continental Outdoor Media to put up the billboards within ten days of the order.

“But also significantly is that the judge has also ordered Continental Outdoor Media to pay for all legal costs that BDS South Africa and the other parties had incurred during this issue,” said Desai.

Desai said the victory sends a clear message to the Israeli lobby, the SAJB and SAZF that its bullying tactics of radio stations, print media and billboard companies have come to an end.

“We are now set to take out many more billboards across the country in terms of informing the public about what is happening in Palestine; we’ve also taken out a few billboards near the airport celebrating Nelson Mandela and his position on this issue.”

(Twitter: @Faizie143)