Al-Qalam 
By Nabeelah Shaikh
In the backdrop of the brutal Zionist war on Gaza, the Muslim Judicial Council Halaal Trust (MJCHT) has adopted a policy position to decline, refuse and not to certify any goods or services emanating from Israel. Now other halaal bodies are being challenged to follow suit.
Shaykh Achmat Sedick, director of the MJCHT said the organisation was committed to ethical business practices in line with international law and human rights.
“Furthermore, the MJCHT declines the certification of any Israeli-based companies or their directly controlled foreign subsidiaries. As part of this commitment, the MJCHT declines the certification of any goods or services emanating from Israel,” said Sedick.
MJCHT’s policy came after engagements with human rights organisation, #Africa4Palestine.
“The MJCHT decision, which is the first such decision in the world, should and will set an example for other such compliance and certification bodies. We call on all other halaal certification bodies to adopt a similar position to that of the MJCHT. #Africa4Palestine has written to such bodies both in South Africa as well as internationally. We have written to SANHA, NIHT, ICSA, among others, and will publish their responses in due course,” said #Africa4Palestine director, Muhammed Desai.
He said the move had major domestic and international implications as well as wide-ranging financial and economic impacts.
He explained that MJCHT is a certification body that provides compliance certificates to companies that manufacture food and drink products as well as to restaurants and other similar establishments that meet certain strict criteria.
Certificates are voluntary, however, in practice, Muslims will not purchase a product that does not have a certificate from an authorised certification or compliance body.
Similarly, Muslims will also not eat at a restaurant that does not have a certificate from a certification body. Desai said consequently, companies seek such certification before selling their products locally or exporting their goods to other countries, especially those that are Muslim-majority.
Some of these countries with significant Muslim populations include Egypt, Mauritania, Algeria, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan, Tanzania, Senegal, Malaysia, Indonesia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bangladesh, Qatar, and Pakistan, among others.
Desai thanked the MJCHT for having engagements with #Africa4Palestine and commended the body for the position that it has adopted after those consultations.
Desai also thanked Chief Mandla Mandela, the grandson of the late Nelson Mandela, for his support both in this MJCHT decision as well as his unwavering commitment to the Palestinian struggle against Israeli Apartheid.
“Israeli companies and products not receiving such certification going forward will isolate them from major markets across the globe with colossal financial consequences. The message is clear – no normal trade with an abnormal country. Israel is paying for its violence, its violations of international law, and abuse of the Palestinian people,” said Desai.
He said that Muslims who make up two billion of the world’s population, do not consume pork or alcohol. In addition, the foods that they consume must follow certain dietary and preparation requirements. Once these requirements are met, a company or restaurant seeks a certificate from an authorised Halaal Certification Body, such as the MJCHT, stating that the product of the restaurant is “halaal”. Desai explained that a company or restaurant with such a certificate can then market their product or restaurant as halaal.
“A halaal certification body (that provides a certificate stating that a product or restaurant is halaal) can be compared, with some limitation, to other certification bodies, such as bodies that provide compliance certificates confirming that a product is Kosher, free from nuts, free from animal cruelty, or free from gluten. In this vein, Africa4Palestine will also be engaging with such bodies to adopt a position of withdrawing and not certifying Israeli companies,” said Desai.
Mandla Mandela, who has also been standing firmly in support of boycotting Israeli companies, also lent his voice to the decision. He called on all halaal certification bodies in South Africa to also withdraw certification of all retail outlets supporting the ongoing genocide in Gaza and all of occupied Palestine.
Mandela said he saluted the MJCHT and the leadership of the MJC for its principled stand and support for the Palestinian struggle.
“We call on all halaal certification authorities as well as we call on the broader interfaith movement to intensify the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Campaign. We call on all sectors of civil society, faith-based organisations, organised labour, and all worker formations to support our call in South Africa, the African continent, and all over the world to also boycott McDonald’s and all who support Apartheid Israel and its Genocide in Gaza and all of occupied Palestine,” said Mandela.
