Pro-Palestinian lobby censure BDS-SA director

NICOLA MILTZ

The organisation has come under fire following recent sexual-harassment allegations levelled at its director and co-founder, Muhammed Desai, and the manner in which the matter has been handled.

This latest incident, as well as the handling of “publicly recorded incidents of alleged anti-Semitism” by the organisation, has led a group of activists and pro-Palestine organisations to join forces to voice their disapproval and concern.

At least 27 individuals as well as several organisations have endorsed this, calling for “deep reflection and action”. Signatory organisations include the University of the Witwatersrand’s Palestine Solidarity Committee, the University of Cape Town’s Palestine Solidarity Forum, and the Muslim Students Association Union.

Fed up and frustrated by the organisation’s apparent lack of accountability, the signatories have come out strongly, lambasting the organisation’s “repeated failure to ensure effective oversight and accountability on serious matters including incidents of anti-Semitism”, labelling this as “gravely regrettable”.

In their statement, the signatories, including several Jewish people, express “concern” about the way in which the BDS-SA board has dealt with the latest sexual harassment allegations.

They express their concern and support for Professor Sang Hea Kil and her two colleagues, who allege that they were sexually harassed by Desai on a recent visit to the country last month.

Professor Kil was in Johannesburg to attend a conference on Palestine, and then stayed on for a study tour of Johannesburg hosted by the Afro Middle East Centre (Amec) – a research institute on Middle Eastern affairs and relations between the Middle East and Africa.

The three women were part of a group of 18 foreign academics who participated in the study tour following the conference.

Mahlatse Mpya, Amec media and publications co-ordinator, told the SA Jewish Report that before returning to America, Professor Kil had laid a charge of sexual harassment at the Brixton Police Station. The incident allegedly took place on 21 March at a restaurant in Melville.

The criminal case against Desai was reportedly closed by police less than a week after charges had been laid. In a personal statement issued by Desai himself, he indicates that the case was closed on the basis of being a “false case”.

The group of activists took umbrage at BDS-SA’s statement on 3 April which was reported in the SA Jewish Report. In it, the BDS board said it condemned all forms of harassment, adding that it was aware that sexism and harassment could “rear its ugly head in any space, including within the NGO (nongovernmental organisation) sector”.

Perceived as cold and clinical, the BDS board’s statement noted the allegations made against its director, Desai. “We also note his denial, and the closure by the authorities of the case,” it said. The board said it would conduct an investigation into the allegations.

Those objecting to the actions of BDS-SA said the statement “raised immediate concerns with severe implications”.

They criticised the BDS board for making no commitment to follow a victim-centred approach. They said that in spite of the board saying that it took matters of sexual harassment seriously, it was silent on the demand made by the women that Desai be suspended pending a full inquiry. They also raised concern about the terms of reference of the investigation, and the overall independence of the process.

“Shockingly, Professor Kil has confirmed that neither she nor her colleagues were contacted prior to the publication of the BDS-SA statement,” their statement reads. “They were apparently informed how their complaint would be treated at the same time as [that of] the general public. This is an affront to the basic tenets of victim-centred and sensitive approaches.”

Desai issued his own personal statement, claiming that the allegations made against him were “utterly baseless, contrived, and defamatory”. He said the case was closed on the basis of being a “false case”. Desai said he was committed to following the processes of the investigation.

The group of activists said they were concerned that BDS-SA had not disapproved of Desai’s comments, saying, “The failure of the police to pursue criminal charges does not offer irrefutable vindication for Desai.”

They said that the struggle “demands that leaders and activists within our movements are committed to, and uphold justice and equity in all spheres”.

Expressing support for Professor Kil, they said, “It is hypocritical to fight for justice for Palestine while exploiting and denigrating women who are vital to this movement.

“Within South Africa’s social-justice sector, this moment calls for deep reflection and action. It is only through a strong commitment to challenge systems that reinforce patriarchy and abuse of power that we can ensure that organisations reflect those principles for which we work,” it reads.

The BDS board was due to begin its “independent” investigation into the allegations against Desai this past Monday. The organisation said the probe was expected to be concluded within a month.

It is understood that the Women’s Legal Centre is representing the women in the investigation.

According to her online profile, Kil is an associate professor at San José State University in the department of justice studies. She is a “scholar-activist” whose research examines the criminalisation of immigrants in the news media, especially in relation to United States-Mexico border coverage.

Desai declined to comment to the SA Jewish Report.