The Muslim Judicial Council’s Halaal Trust (MJCHT) has adopted a policy position to not certify any goods or services emanating from Israel as part of efforts to boycott all Israeli companies and products.

IoL reports that the trust is a certification body that provides compliance certificates to companies that manufacture food and drink products as well as to restaurants and other similar establishments.

Certificates are voluntary but, in practice, Muslims will not purchase a product that does not have a certificate from an authorised certification or compliance body, such as the MJCHT.

Human rights organisation #Africa4Palestine welcomed the announcement and said the decision followed its engagements with the council.

‘The MJCHT decision, which is the first such decision in the world, should and will set an example for other such compliance and certification bodies. We call on all other halaal certification bodies to adopt a similar position to that of the MJCHT,’ the organisation said.

#Africa4Palestine has also written to other such bodies in SA and globally, including the SA National Halaal Authority, the National Independent Halaal Trust, and the Islamic Council of SA.

‘Israeli companies and products not receiving such certification going forward will isolate them from major markets across the globe with colossal financial consequences. The message is clear: no normal trade with an abnormal country. Israel is paying for its violence, its violations of international law, and the abuse of the Palestinian people,’ #Africa4Palestine said in a statement yesterday.

Full IoL report