S. African Muslim Lawyers Demand Arrest Of Israel's Peres

*Former Israeli President Shimon Peres is expected in South Africa this weekend (photo: dok. Anadolu Agency)*

Johannesburg, 17 Jumadal Awwal 1437/ 25 February 2016 (MINA) – A Muslim lawyers association in South Africa has filed an official request with authorities to have former Israeli President Shimon Peres arrested when he arrives in the country this coming weekend for a fundraising event.

“We have launched a complaint with the South African Police Services (SAPS), the Hawks [specialized police services] and the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) to arrest Peres for war crimes and crimes against humanity,’’ attorney Yousha Tayob of the South African Muslim Lawyers Association(MLA) told Anadolu Agency Wednesday.

Tayob said Peres has committed numerous crimes such as his alleged involvement in Israel’s shelling of the southern Lebanese village of Ghana in 1996.

Amid clashes with Hezbollah, Israeli forces fired artillery shells at a UN compound in Ghana, killing 106 people. At the time, Shimon Peres was Israel’s prime minister.

“Peres violated many laws that protect the right to life. He breached many international laws,” Tayob said by telephone.

The 92-year-old former Israeli leader is expected to arrive in South Africa this weekend for a fundraising event hosted by the Israel United Appeal (IUA) and the United Communal Fund (UCF).

In June 2015, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi canceled his trip to South Africa for the African Union Summit, after the same Muslim Lawyers Association filed an official request for his arrest.

They accused Sisi of committing crimes against humanity following the events that followed the coup led to the ouster of President Mohammed Morsi in 2013.

There has been no official reaction to the arrest request.

Last year, South Africa failed to arrest Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir who is wanted by the International criminal court (ICC) when he visited the country to attend an African Union summit.

“We believe there will be a lot of politics at play in this case, but we’ve given the prosecution authority sufficient evidence to prove that Peres committed these crimes,” Tayob said.(T/hna/R07 )

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)