Today, Monday April 8, will be held the webinar “Refusing Militarism: Perspectives from Israel Palestine and South Africa”. According Mesarvot Network, “We are honored to host South African activist Zackie Achmat for a conversation with current refuseniks Tal Mitnick and Sofia Orr. Together, they will discuss their struggles for peace and justice in their homes.”
Sofia Orr during an interview on refusing during the Gaza War (Footage: France 24)
Achmat is movement builder, political activist and law reformer. He spent his life fighting for justice, equality, dignity, and freedom, particularly for working-class people and vulnerable minorities. Zackie worked within the ANC (African National Congress Party) to end White minority rule in Apartheid South Africa. Since 1994, he co-founded and led movements such as the Treatment Action Campaign, Equal Education, the Social Justice Coalition, Ndifuna Ukwazi, Reclaim the City, and #UniteBehind. These movements focused on political education, research, mobilization, and litigation.
Currently, he fights against state capture, corruption, mismanagement, fraud, incompetence, and criminality in government through #UniteBehind. He is also running as an independent candidate in the 2024 elections. As an independent member of Parliament, he aims to work alongside social movements and other MPs.
Tal Mitnick, 18, is the first public Israeli war refuser in the current war. He refused to serve in the Israeli Military in December. Since then, he has been sentenced several times, completing 105 days in military prison. Tal is bravely speaking up against the deadly militaristic ways calling for a political agreement, and advocates a peaceful solution to the ongoing conflict. Sofia Orr, 18, has also recently refused to serve in the Israeli army during the war. She is courageously calling for an alternative to the violence and bloodshed and advocating wide civil resistance to fight for human rights in this land. So far, Sofia has been sentenced twice, completing 40 days in the military prison.
Both Tal and Sofia do not have a release date in sight and will soon be summoned and imprisoned again, for another term in the military prison.
