RAMALLAH, March 29, 2017 (WAFA) – Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee member Hanan Ashrawi Wednesday mourned the passing of African National Congress (ANC) veteran and anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Kathrada at the age of 87 in Johannesburg.

“On behalf of the Palestinian leadership and the people of Palestine, we extend our deepest and heartfelt condolences for the passing of anti-apartheid activist, South African politician, former political prisoner, and human rights leader Ahmed Kathrada,” said Ashrawi in a statement.

“We will always remain grateful to Kathrada for his tireless and selfless commitment to ending Israel‘s system of apartheid against the Palestinian people and to promoting the Palestinian struggle for self-determination, independence and justice,” she said.

In April 2013, Kathrada visited Palestine as a guest of honor of the "Freedom & Dignity" International Conference held on the eleventh anniversary of Marwan Barghouti‘s arrest. Six months later, Kathrada, who spent 26 years in apartheid prisons, launched "the International Campaign to Free Marwan Barghouti and All Palestinian Prisoners" alongside Barghouti’s wife, Fadwa, from the former cell of Nelson Mandela in Robben Island. It should also be mentioned that his namesake foundation promotes the BDS movement and supports Israeli Apartheid Week.

“Kathrada‘s unwavering dedication to eradicating apartheid and safeguarding freedom, human rights and equality for all will continue to inspire us and give us the strength to remain steadfast and undeterred in our own nonviolent efforts to end the military occupation and to establish an independent Palestinian state,” said Ashrawi.

“His passing is a great loss and will be felt in Palestine for a long time. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Kathrada family, the ANC, the people of South Africa, and to those who have been deeply moved by Kathrada‘s immense legacy.”

M.K.