Muslims’ Love for Archbishop Tutu
Muslim South Africans were a part of the struggle against apartheid in South Africa. But there are other reasons why Muslims are thankful to Archbishop Tutu as well. Here is a report by Saleha Faruque. Script: There is perhaps the only one street in the world where two Nobel peace laureates lived. This is Soweto, South Africa. Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Tutu both lived there. Here is Lerato, their neighbor: V000_9V97U8 21. SOUNDBITE 2: "He used to literally do his morning run here, so to hear of his passing this morning, it's just a big blow. As you know, this street is the only street in the world the two Nobel Peace Prize winners have lived, you can then imagine us, the neighbors around, we are really touched by his passing. Condolences to the rest of the family. " Both are no longer in this world. But both, Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Tutu, stay in the heart of Muslims. Muslims were a part of struggle against apartheid in South Africa. ---Pause---- Archbishop Tutu knew what apartheid is. Israeli Human rights organization B’tSalem and Human Rights Watch NOW call Israel an apartheid state. But the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, , compared Israel’s treatment of Palestinians to apartheid. He even backed the boycott and sanctions movement against Israel. [show https://www.timesofisrael.com/archbishop-desmond-tutu-south-african-anti-apartheid-activist-dies-at-90/ by highlighting the word apartheid] He considered Palestine as God’s own cause. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZbIBb7gVuQ 40:-1:17 --pause— He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in 1984. As the apartheid system fell in 1994, Tutu led the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. He sought to provide "restorative justice." It meant compensation to survivors and amnesty to perpetrators who cooperated with the inquiry. --- pause— Tutu became voice of the oppressed. --- pause— He spoke up for Rohingya people in Burma. When the Burma Task Force launched its campaign for Rohingya people, he came forward. At the request of Maung Zarni (pronounces Zaani) and Imam Malik Mujahid, he said what Rohingyas face in Burma is a text book case of genocide. It was years before the rest of the world started considering a genocide. --pause— In 2015, Muslims faced genocide in the Central African Republic. Almost all the 436 mosques in that country were destroyed. Christian militias were killing Muslims. [https://www.google.com/search?q=Samantha+Power+on+central+african+republic+almost+all+mosques+are+destoryed&oq=Samantha+Power+on+central+african+republic+almost+all+mosques+are+destoryed&aqs=chrome..69i57.12247j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8] The world remained silent. But Archbishop Tutu warned them of genocide. He was the only one to use the term genocide to define what was happening. –-pause— Tutu opposed the invasion of Iraq. He called for former U.S. President George W. Bush and former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair to face prosecution at the International Criminal Court over their invasion and occupation of Iraq. ---puase--- He cared for All. ---puase--- V000_9V97U8 0. SOUNDBITE 1 - Stephen Moreo, bishop of Johannesburg "His legacy will be his love for all people. I don't know whether you have come across his writings, he has always said that God is not God of Christians, God is God of all people. So his main legacy is his love for all God's people. " ---puase--- He chose the cheapest available coffin. As he opposed lavish spending. ---puase--- Thank you Bishop Tutu. Thank you. This is Saleha Farouqe for Muslim News.
