The South African Council of Churches (SACC) says it stands firmly with the World Council of Churches (WCC) in condemning the interrogation and subsequent deportation of Prof Isabel Phiri‚ the WCC Associate General Secretary‚ by the Israeli government.
“This is indeed an unfortunate incident‚ which serves to undermine the important role of peace-building that the WCC is doing‚” said Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana‚ SACC General Secretary.
“As a country that benefited enormously from the interventions of the WCC during the apartheid era‚ South Africa is dismayed at the manner in which Dr Phiri has been treated‚ and offer all our support to the WCC‚ which has lodged an appeal against this discriminatory action against Phiri‚” he said.
Dr Phiri was part of a four-person WCC delegation to Israel‚ entering the country at the Ben Gurion International Airport when she was called aside‚ interrogated and deported for reasons described as the “prevention of illegal immigration considerations”‚ Mpumlwana said.
“Dr Phiri‚ who is a respected theologian and academic‚ spent many years in South Africa‚ working at the University of KwaZulu Natal prior to her deployment to the WCC‚ in Switzerland. She was travelling to Jerusalem to attend consultations with church leaders on the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI)‚ which is one of the many programmes and activities supported by the WCC globally.
“The work of the WCC and indeed of many member countries is enriched by Dr Phiri’s dedication and expertise‚ and this action has deprived the people of Palestine and Israel‚ who appealed to the WCC for the promotion of peace‚ of her input and service‚” Mpumlwana said.
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