Ahmad Kathrada, a South African Muslim and well known activist has passed away today age 87. Originally of Indian heritage, Kathrada fought against racism and discrimination for most of his life, and was imprisoned on the infamous Robben Island alongside Nelson Mandela. Robben Island was used by the South African government to isolate political prisoners, and is the place where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years of his life behind bars before the end of the apartheid. Kathrada and Mandela remained very good friends up until Mandela’s death in 2013.
He was also a very loyal friend of Palestine, and upon returning from a trip there he made the following statement:
"I have now personally witnessed the plight of the Palestinian people. They are living under conditions of permanent Martial law," Kathrada wrote in an open letter to Freeman. "I came back convinced that Israel is indeed an apartheid state. And in certain respects it is worse than apartheid".
The Palestinian authority today posted this tweet in his remembrance
We extend our deepest condolences to the family of #AhmadKathrada and the people of South Africa. He was a loyal friend of #Palestine pic.twitter.com/kiypmYHbH8
— Palestine PLO - NAD (@nadplo) March 28, 2017
According to a statement posted by the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, he "passed away peacefully after a short period of illness, following surgery to the brain."
His admirers and followers posted tweets in condolence with his death and in solidarity for his great work.
May Allah grant #AhmadKathrada a highest place in jannah. Rip pic.twitter.com/0SGnfN1npC
— IAW2017 (@shamznoor) March 28, 2017
#Homecoming #reuniongoals #squadgoals #AhmadKathrada #RestInPower pic.twitter.com/3L4IOw3NnV
— DarkSkinnedActivist (@VimbayiKajese) March 28, 2017
