A group of 21 youths – aged between 16 and 21 – arrived in South Africa on Monday and are heading for Cape Town as part of an exchange program that was negotiated by the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) almost two years ago. According to MJC president, Maulana Igsaan Hendricks, the visit is a culmination of a long-standing relationship between the MJC and the Palestinian Islamic Movement.

“These youth – many of whom are huffaath – are the sons of prominent leaders of the Palestinian Islamic leaders and are part of the 1.3 million Palestinians living under occupation in northern Israel,” Hendricks explained, adding that the group who arrives in Cape Town at 4pm Monday were being hosted by the Al Quds Foundation and the MJC.

To get a better idea of what life in Cape Town is like, they will be living with various families and the highlight of their stay will include celebrating Eidul Adha in the Mother City on Sunday. VOC

2006/12/27