Activists from the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (PSC) have decided to take steps to enforce a ruling by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) that the Labia theatre screen the award-winning documentary ‘Roadmap to Apartheid’. The organisation said it was disappointed that the management of the cinema had rejected the findings of the commission in November last year which supported the PSC’s initial complaint. The complaint stated that the theatre was in violation of the Constitution’s Bill of Rights to cancel an agreement made to screen the award-winning documentary.

The reasons for the cancellation given by the Labia’s management were that the film is critical of Zionism and Israel’s policies towards the Palestinians. The SAHRC last year ordered the Labia to screen the film within three months. The Labia still refuses to comply with that order.

The PSC said rejecting the ruling shows the determination of Zionists to suppress all criticism of Israel. It said Zionists are willing to attack the South African constitution in order to do so.

“The Zionist lobby is very much involved despite any denial they might make saying that they haven’t pressured the Labia,” said Terry Crawford-Browne, speaking on behalf of PSC.

“We will take legal action as this is an abuse of the bill of rights.”

The Labia’s management maintains that as a privately-owned business it had the right to screen what it chose. According to PSC, the theatre’s manager Ludi Krause made clear his personal hostility towards the film, though at the time he admitted that he had not seen it. Nonetheless, he felt able to comment on its cinematic and artistic qualities and disagreed with the political views in the film.

In an effort to settle this matter, PSC repeated their willingness to share a platform with those who oppose the political views of the film. On this platform, those for and against the film would have been able to address the audience to lay their case forth.

“The Labia has a history of showing politically aware films and they should continue with that,” Crawford-Browne continued.

“The Labia won’t play the film because it highlights oppression and apartheid in Israel and Palestine and in so doing they are violating the bill of rights.”

When VOC News approached Krause for comment, he said: “The matter is in the hands of our attorneys and they will take the matter further.”

The PSC is in the process of approaching the courts to have the Labia screen the film and at the same time, a call for a boycott of the Labia theatre continues. VOC (Umarah Hartley)