Muslims censure govt position on Gaza war
Government has ignited the wrath of the country’s Muslims over its decision to vote against the United Nations General Assembly (Unga) resolution calling for a ceasefire in the ongoing war in Gaza.
Malawi was among 14 countries globally and the only one in Africa that two weeks ago voted against the resolution demanding Israel to withdraw from the occupied territory of Palestine.
Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM) and the Islamic Commission for Justice and Freedom (ICJF) have queried the government’s position to side with Israel at the expense of lives of innocent women and children.
MAM publicity secretary Sheikh Dinala Chabulika while condemning the government for voting for continued presence of Israel in Gaza queried the interests of the country in continuing to encourage the war in the Middle East and the killing of innocent people.
“The world wants an immediate end to the war. We want peace to prevail but we are very much concerned with the stand of our country that instead of lobbying for peace and encouraging the warring sides to cease fire Malawi is encouraging the war,” lamented Chabulika.
He wondered why only Malawi voted against a ceasefire while supporting Israel to continue with the war and “keep on killing innocent citizens.”
“Is that human? Is our country not sorry to see dozens of innocent women and children being ruthlessly killed? This is the third time our country has voted against a cease fire.
“Is that a good foreign policy that a country must follow? We are faulting this foreign policy our country is following,” said Chabulika.
Meanwhile, ICJF has organised a march on March 11 against the government’s stand to continue backing Israel’s presence in Gaza.
In a letter addressed to Mangochi district commissioner and signed by ICJF chief commissioner Shaibu Abdul Rahaman Ajassie, the body says the march will take place in Mangochi.
“The march is centred on the following issues; Why does the Malawi government want the war in Gaza to continue when innocent children, women and the elderly are being killed? What is it the government of Malawi is benefitting from Israel that makes it hate the Palestinians to the extent of celebrating when they are killed,” reads the statement.
Chief government spokesperson, who is also Minister of Information and Digitisation, Moses Kunkuyu asked for more time before commenting on the matter.
In December last year, the country also received widespread condemnation after it abstained on another UN vote to call for the Gaza ceasefire.
Malawi was among 23 nations that abstained in the UN resolution that passed with a large majority of 153 in favour and only 10 against.
The resolution also reiterated the General Assembly’s demand that all parties involved in the war comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, “notably with regard to the protection of civilians.”