Al-Qalam 
By Al-Qalam Reporter
The South African Palestine Movement says they were harassed by police this week when they peacefully protested outside the Durban International Convention Centre where the SADC Summit was being held.
A small group of just 10 peaceful activists gathered to exercise their constitutional right to peaceful assembly and to raise concerns about xenophobia, Afrophobia, and the protection of human rights across the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region.
“Instead of facilitating this lawful and peaceful picket, protesters were confronted by an overwhelming police presence. There were approximately four times as many police officers as protesters, creating an atmosphere of intimidation rather than one of protection.
“The role of the police is to safeguard the rights of peaceful demonstrators, not to intimidate or discourage lawful civic participation. Such disproportionate policing risks undermining the constitutional rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and protest.
“We call on the relevant authorities to ensure that all law enforcement officers uphold the Constitution and respect the rights of those who engage in peaceful, non-violent protest. Democracy is strengthened when peaceful voices are protected, not silenced.
“Peaceful protest is not a threat—it is a cornerstone of a democratic society. From the Durban ICC we moved to the @ANC offices – and again the police asked us to move,” the statement added.
