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Portrait of Ahmed Kathrada

Ahmed Kathrada

South African anti-apartheid activist and Palestine solidarity campaigner

Friend of PalestineNot Palestinian, and stood with Palestine
Born
21 August 1929
Born in
Schweizer-Reneke, Western Transvaal, South Africa
Read Ahmed’s story2 videosAsk about Ahmed

Why Ahmed is here

Ahmed Kathrada, a prominent anti-apartheid activist, extended his advocacy for justice to include staunch support for the Palestinian cause, linking the struggles against apartheid in South Africa to the fight against the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

Their story

Ahmed Kathrada was a South African anti-apartheid activist, politician, and lifelong advocate for human rights. He was a close confidant of Nelson Mandela and spent 26 years in prison, most of them on Robben Island. After the end of apartheid, Kathrada continued his activism, particularly focusing on Palestinian rights, recognizing the similarities between the struggles of South Africans and Palestinians.

Milestones

The moments that shaped Ahmed’s path.

  1. 1941

    Joined the anti-apartheid movement at the age of 12, becoming involved in youth activism.

  2. 1964

    Sentenced to life imprisonment at the Rivonia Trial, alongside Nelson Mandela and other leaders, for his role in the anti-apartheid movement.

  3. 1989

    Released from prison after 26 years, becoming a symbol of resilience and resistance against oppression.

  4. 1994

    Elected to the South African Parliament and served as President Mandela’s Parliamentary Counsellor, declining a ministerial position to remain focused on his advocacy work.

  5. 2013

    Launched the International Campaign to Free Marwan Barghouti and All Palestinian Prisoners, aligning his legacy of fighting apartheid with the Palestinian struggle.

Legacy

What they built, changed and left behind.

  1. International Campaign to Free Marwan Barghouti

    In 2013, Kathrada launched the International Campaign to Free Marwan Barghouti and All Palestinian Prisoners, which drew global attention to the plight of Palestinian political prisoners, likening their struggle to that of South African anti-apartheid fighters.

  2. Advocacy for Palestinian Rights

    Kathrada was a vocal critic of Israeli policies in Palestine, using his international platform to advocate for Palestinian self-determination and an end to the occupation.

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  3. Support for BDS Movement

    Kathrada supported the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, encouraging the international community to pressure Israel through economic and cultural boycotts, similar to the strategies used against apartheid South Africa.

  4. Public Speaking on Palestine

    He frequently spoke at international forums, drawing parallels between the apartheid regime in South Africa and the Israeli occupation, thereby influencing global opinion and encouraging solidarity with the Palestinian cause.

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  5. Connecting South African and Palestinian Struggles

    Through his writings and speeches, Kathrada consistently highlighted the similarities between the struggles of Palestinians and black South Africans, fostering a greater understanding of the Palestinian issue among South Africans and the global anti-apartheid community.

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Watch & listen

Ahmed in interviews, talks and coverage.

  • 01Advocacy for Palestinian Rights↗

  • 02Public Speaking on Palestine↗

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