Volume 7 - Issue 1

The Race Against Racism

7 May 2025

The late Imam Achmad Cassiem, leader of the anti-apartheid resistance group Qibla in South Africa, prepared this paper for Islamic Human Rights Commission to present at the UN World Conference Against Racism in 2001. Almost 25 years later his analysis of social breakdown based on hatred of the other exemplified in the cause of Palestine, as well as the Quranic alternative of social harmony resonate in a time of polarisation and genocide.

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

“And cover not Truth with falsehood, nor conceal

the Truth when ye know what it is.”

[Quran 2:42]

I INTRODUCTION

The title of this paper, THE RACE AGAINST RACISM, indicates both the solution to the problem of racism and its various manifestations, as well as the urgency with which this problem should be tackled.

Humankind is facing a crisis: this means that they are in an emergency, a time of acute danger; it also means that they are at a turning point in their existence, a decisive moment.

The Palestinian people being part of humankind, are not exempted from this crisis but actually experience it more acutely. For them every moment is a decisive moment.

But perhaps it is better to say that humankind is facing a series of crises. For apart from the much publicized economic and political crises, we also face an intellectual crisis, a moral crisis as well as a spiritual crisis.

A universally accepted scientific principle is that in order to provide a solution, solutions or the solution to a problem, we must first identify the problem, and then formulate the problem correctly.

We can simplify our approach recognizing different types of problems. For example:

(i) factual problems

(ii) attitudinal problems

(iii) conceptual problems

Factual problems are only resolved by placing the facts on the table. Attitudinal problems on the other hand, are not necessarily resolved by placing the facts on the table. Attitudinal problems can only be resolved by placing the facts on the table and educating oneself and others as to their nature.

Conceptual problems are problems of understanding. One may have the facts and the correct attitude and still not understand but they still remain pre-requisites for correct understanding.

Nobody questions or doubts what the practical implications of Zionism are; occupation of Palestinian lands; murder, assassination, torture, genocide, war, etc. All of it is well documented. All of it reads like a comprehensive encyclopaedia on oppression.

On this base we can then resolve the following:

(i) Is Zionism the cause of the problem or is it simply the symptom of a bigger problem? If merely a symptom, then a symptom of what? Colonialism, Imperialism, religious bigotry? etc.

(ii) Is Zionism the cause of the problem or is Zionism merely a contributory factor to the problem; Zionism aggravates the problem? What then is the real problem?

THE PARADIGM SHIFT

What is the history of Human Rights?

What are Human Rights?

Who determines or legislates Human Rights?

What is the purpose of having Human Rights?

How can Human Rights be enforced?

Can we have Human Rights without Human Obligations?

What is the “true nature” of Human Rights?

On 10th December 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS. In the PREAMBLE the following clauses occur:

“Whereas disregard of and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind … ”

“Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law …”

“Now therefore the General Assembly proclaims: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance,..’

It is quite obvious that every single article of the thirty articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has been violated by the Zionist regime in Israel. And in spite of this Israel remains a member of the U.N.

We can only assume that a different paradigm applies to Israel because more than 300 resolutions have been passed against Israel and none have been enforced.

CHOICE OF PARADIGMS

Paradigms are models or patterns of thought; they are also sets of rules and regulations which establish intellectual and normative boundaries; they therefore filter our incoming experiences and allow us to either be successful or unsuccessful in solving the problematiques that face us.

Paradigms may have a positive effect or a negative effect on resolving problems. The Apartheid Paradigm had a negative effect on all facets of life; social, political, economic, military, intellectual, moral, emotional, spiritual, etc.

It is our contention that the Zionist Paradigm has an even more pernicious effect than the Apartheid Regime.

Humankind, generally speaking has three universal paradigms they can choose from:

The whole of life is sacred and under the sovereignty of the Creator
Life is not sacred at all, and there is no being called the Creator.
Part of the life is sacred, and part is not sacred.

The Islamic Paradigm (Qur’anic Paradigm) asserts that the whole of life is sacred. The Creator is One (not a mathematical one but existential one) therefore His creation is one¹; humankind is one therefore there is one set of divinely ordained universal laws. Those that govern our involuntary actions we know in secular culture as science. For those laws that govern our voluntary actions, from an Islamic perspective are known as Shariah.

“We make no distinction between one and another of His apostles”. [Qur’an 2:285]

Muslims therefore accept all the Prophets including the ones which the Jews say they believe in. It is therefore important to listen to Jews saying that we must not conflate Zionism with Judaism. Our struggle is not against Jews and Judaism but against Zionism.

It has been correctly observed that the main function of the dominant ideology or set of beliefs is to make the rule or misrule of the dominant class seem legitimate; and if it cannot be legitimised at least legalized.

It has also been correctly noted that social reality is distorted because it is constructed by the ruling class to maintain its dominant and privileged position.

The fact that we have a conflict of perspectives does not necessarily mean we have a conflict of interests.

“Truth alone makes free. There is no “why” in respect of Truth, for it is over intelligence, over freedom, our very being.” [F. SCHUON]

II WHAT IS RACISM?

Racism propounds that humankind is divided into many races, they are different and unequal, and one race is superior to the others. This is the case with Nazism, Herrenvolkism in South Africa, as well as Zionism.

It is clear that they rely on prescriptive definitions to underpin their ideology. It is our contention that we develop a better understanding of ‘racism’ if we distinguish it from ‘racialism’. Racism is statutory, based and enforced through the law by the judiciary, the police and the army.

Racialism is discrimination on the basis of race but not based on statutes – or enforced by law. It can only be overcome with an overdose of education and moral qualities.

It is self-evident that Nazi Germany, the Apartheid Regime and Zionist Israel are examples of racist regimes.

“It is my considered opinion that the State of Israel is a RACIST STATE IN THE FULL MEANING OF THIS TERM: in this state people are discriminated against, in the most permanent and legal way and in the most important areas of life, ONLY BECAUSE OF THEIR ORIGIN. This racist discrimination began in Zionism and is carried out today mainly in co-operation with the institutions of the Zionist movement.” [Dr. Israel Shahak, The Racist Nature of Zionism and of the Zionist State of Israel; Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 5^th November 1975]

MULTI-RACISM

Multi-racism propounds that humankind consists of many races, they are different but they are equal. In what respects are they different, and in what respects are they equal? Discrimination still takes place on the basis of their differences and not on the basis of their equality.

Multi-racism is simply racism in camouflage. Multi-racialism is a non-statutory variety of discrimination based on race.

NON-RACISM

Non-racism is merely a disposition, an attitude, a negation of a racist attitude. Many otherwise clear thinkers fall into this conceptual confusion by saying – “We are non-racist, therefore all races are welcome”.

“To say that race is a myth and that in our country there are no Africans, Coloureds and Indians, but only blacks, is to play with words. The main ethnological divisions of mankind are acknowledged by bourgeois and Marxist anthropologists and those from the so-called uncommitted world. People can observe them with the naked eye. Physical characteristics – the colour of the skin and the texture of the hair – can be observed by merely looking at a painting of Chaka and one of Napoleon, at Tambo and Dadoo, Kotane and Reggie September. In addition to the colour of their skins and the texture of their hair they differ in historical origins and in their culture and languages. What is a myth is the theory that there is a pure race, for miscegenation has taken place throughout the world since the dawn of history. It has also affected this country, and many leading white families who are so obsessed with the idea of racial purity are themselves of mixed blood. Science and experience have also shown that no race is inherently superior to others, and this myth has been equally exploded whenever blacks and whites are given equal opportunity for development. But race as such exists in the world, and in our country there is nothing wrong with using the terms African, Coloured and Indian in appropriate cases.

“Linked with the above issue is the charge that, far from developing non-racial thinking, the Congress structure – which embraces separate organisations, for the four different population groups – entrenches racial thinking since it is a perpetual reminder that we differ from one another.” [Nelson Mandela, Reflections in prison, edited by Mac Maharaj, Zebra and Robben Island Museum, 2001]

Aspects of affirmative action are also racism: for one has to affirm one’s racial classification as introduced under the Apartheid regime, and by doing so one also affirms one’s own stupidity. This is simply reproducing racism.

Many so-called non-racist positions in practice become multi-racist positions.

ANTI-RACISM

Anti-racism is the only genuine, authentic, potent and revolutionary antidote for the poison of racism. Racism and anti-racism cannot co-exist; neither in the same physical space nor in the same intellectual and moral orbit. We have to combat racism and racialism in all their forms. From an Islamic point of view this is not the point of being tolerant but the point of principle. Because the creator is one, the Prophets are from one source.

These revolutionary positions are clearly discernible in the two primary sources of law in Islam, that is, the Qur’an and Sunnah (practices of the Prophet).

The Qur’an it is repeated, was revealed not for Arabs but for all mankind.

“O mankind! Reverence your Guardian Lord, who created you from a single person, created, of like nature, his mate, and from them twain scattered (like seeds) countless men and women; – Reverence God, through Whom ye demand your mutual (rights), and (reverence) the wombs (that bore you): for God ever watches over you.” [Qur’an 4:1]

“O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye

may despise each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of

God is (he who is) the most righteous of you, and God has full

knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).” [Qur’an 49:13]

In the Prophet’s last sermon he specifically states:

“There is no superiority for an Arab over a non-Arab, nor for a non-Arab over an Arab; nor for white over black, nor for black over white. You are all the descendants of Adam (the prototype of human being) and he was created out of dust.” (Circa 632 AD)

In this Hadith the Prophet (S.A.W.) clearly outlaws any claim to superiority on the basis of nationality, tribe, language or race. He also condemns reverse discrimination. This is said at the end of his mission.

And at the beginning of his mission this is also key. It can be seen in the original companions of the Prophet e.g. Abu Bakr one of the richest Arab Quraishite merchants, Bilal, an Abyssinaian slave, Ibn Zaid, a freed Yemenite slave and Shoaib, a Roman. On one occasion Abu Dharr al-Ghaffari, an Arab companion, called Bilal the “son of a black woman” and the Prophet immediately reprimanded him and made him apologize to Bilal. This is a clear demonstration of the principle of anti-racialism.

Racism does not merely cause or contribute towards or aggravate violence, terrorism and oppression. Racism is an act of violence; racism is an act of terrorism, racism is oppression.

IS ZIONISM RACISM?

We cannot but conclude that it is. Orthodox Zionists state that one is only a Jew if one’s mother is a Jew; Liberal Zionists state that one is a Jew when either the mother or father is a Jew.

Superiority is also claimed on the basis of being God’s chosen race, God’s chosen people.

III IS THE ZIONIST STATE AN APARTHEID STATE?

It is not merely an Apartheid State (i.e. a Racist state) it is worse; for the following reasons:

SIMILARITIES BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE APARTHEID STATE

both are settler colonial states
both are supported economically and militarily by superpowers
both were established in 1948, that is after World War II and after the

establishment of the United Nations

both were and are pro-West
both are nuclear powers and co-operated in this regard
both are member states of the United Nations
both are racist – Jews are superior to goyim; Whites are superior to

blacks

both used religion as a moral base for their racist politics
both are chauvinistic and expansionistic
etc., etc.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE APARTHEID STATE

(a) The Apartheid State evolved over a period of around 300 years

culminating in the victory of the National Party under Dr.

F. Malan in 1948, who also happened to be the first

foreign head of government to visit Israel.

(b) The Zionist State of Israel was imposed on a defenceless

people over a very short period of time and culminated in

the Declaration of the State of Israel on 15th May 1948 in

broad daylight and under the spotlight of the United

Nations.

(a) The Apartheid Regime did not claim that the United Nations

created it, nor did the United Nations create it.

(b) The Zionist State of Israel claims it is the creation of the

U.N. in accordance with Resolution 181 (II) of 28th November

The truth of the matter is that Israel is not the

creation of the U.N. The U.N. was faced with a de facto

Israeli State – and criminally recognized it in violation of

its own Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The following must be borne in mind:

(i) It is debatable whether the U.N. was in fact competent

under international law to partition or otherwise

dispose of the territory of Palestine against the

wishes of the clear majority of its inhabitants.

(ii) The partition resolution did not by any means command

general support outside the Arab world. It was

adopted by a vote of 33 to 13 with 10 abstentions.

The U.K. abstained.

(iii) Pressure was applied by the U.S.A. on China, Ethiopia,

Greece, Haiti, Liberia and the Philippines. Greece

alone did not succumb to its pressure.

(iv) At the time (i.e. 1947) the U.N. was far from being

representative of the whole world community. We have

no doubt that if it was put to the vote today, it will

not be approved.

(v) Having adopted the resolution, the General Assembly of

the U.N. did nothing effective to carry it out;

neither did the Security Council nor any other unit of

the U.N.

(vi) The British withdrew its forces. Arab armies

intervened to support the Palestinians but were

defeated. Israel ended up with 80 % of the territory

instead of 57 % allocated to it in terms of the

partition plan.

(vii) The creators of Israel were the terrorists of the

Haganah, Irgun and Pamach.

(viii) Israel’s ambassador to Pretoria, Uri Oren boasted a

few years ago that 28 % of the soldiers who fought to

establish the state of Israel came from South Africa.

We need to realize that all of these soldiers were classified white under the Apartheid Regime and were defenders and upholders and defenders of those who committed crimes against humanity (as defined by the U.N. General Assembly) were the very same forces who helped to establish the Zionist State of Israel.

Apartheid was declared a crime against humanity by the United Nations, this means that the Apartheid regime was part of an international crime syndicate which aided and abetted crimes against humanity.

It stands to reason that it was this same international crime syndicate which conspired, aided and abetted in the creation of the Zionist State of Israel, and subsequently in its defence.

(ix) It is against this background that we must view the

fact that in May 1949 Israel applied for admission to

the U.N. On 11th May 1949 the General Assembly in

Resolution 273 admitted Israel as a member.

(a) The Apartheid State’s claim to the land is based on “we

arrived here first; it was empty space.” Yes, there was a lot

of space but it wasn’t empty.

(b) The Zionist state of Israel lays its claim to the land on the

following basis:

History and the Bible provide the justification for the modern state of Israel. Although Biblical arguments are used to justify claims by Zionists these have never been accepted by any government or international body outside Israel. And for that matter not even by all Jews.

This is obvious in terms of the total Jewish population in the world

which is approximately 14 million. There are more Jews living in the U.S.A. than

in Israel. In other words, the Jews themselves don’t believe in the

prophecies which are supposed to be the foundation as well as the

justification for the establishment of the Zionist State of Israel.

What was supposed to be the solution to the problem of the Jews in the

diaspora has become their nightmare.

V CONCLUSION

There are four grounds on which Zionism deserves to be criticized and condemned.

The systematic deception which has been practised by the Zionists not

only against the world’s population but especially against the Jews

themselves.

The pretension that Jews wherever they may live, owe allegiance to

Zionism and the Zionist State of Israel, and making Jews feel guilty

for the atrocities committed by the Nazis. Why should the victims

feel guilty?

The blatant disregard for the rights of others which Zionism has

implanted. This disregard and violation is itself an act of injustice

and a threat to peace. And the fact that this disregard is

purportedly in accordance with religious principles makes it even

worse.

The cruelty and injustice (massacres, genocide, assassinations, torture and general inhumanity and brutality) which the pursuit of Zionism has inflicted on the Palestinians.

The manifestation of Zionism we have observed since the 1940s to date is definitely not that of a national liberation movement to free Jews

in the diaspora from Western and Christian persecution and to promote

Jewish national renaissance.

The manifestation of Zionism we are seeing is that of a colonizing,

expansionist, racist settler movement which is hell bent at

dispossessing an indigenous population by any means necessary and

supplanting them with Jews.

In the words of Golda Meir on 15th June 1969: “There was no such

THING as Palestinians. It was not as though there was a Palestinian

people in Palestine considering itself as a Palestinian people . . .

They did not exist.” [Sunday Times 15/6/1969]

The Zionist State of Israel does not conform to international secular

principles, values, norms and ideals. This is evident in its

violation of every single article in the Universal Declaration of

Human Rights.

But neither does the Zionist State of Israel conform to universal

religious principles, values, norms and ideals.

Israel is a law unto itself; a rogue state with the full backing of

the U.S.A. to the extent that the world has been prevented from even

discussing Zionism.

We sincerely hope that the respected international delegations as well

as the South African delegations take a resolute stand against this

monstrous political entity and do everything in our power to see that

the Palestinian people are allowed to return to their usurped land and

exercise their right to self-determination, freedom, justice and

peace.

Justice precedes peace, for peace emanates from justice.

Imam Achmad Cassiem was an anti-apartheid activists, imprisoned at the age of 17 on Robben Island. He suffered further imprisonment as well as banning orders under the South African apartheid regime. He led the resistance group Qibla, which worked broadly under the umbrella of the Pan African Congress, the Western Cape Division of which he led in 2005. He also served as its Secretary General at National level. He became an advisor to Islamic Human Rights Commission in 2001, when he joined its delegation to Durban, South Africa for the fourth UN Conference Against Racism. He passed away in 2023.

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