The Caribbean Against Apartheid in Palestine organization feels that the country’s youngest residents need to be informed of world events and take a position for justice, which is why over thirty youngsters participated in the Freedom for Palestine rally on Saturday in Bridgetown.
The fact that parents recognized the value of their children standing out for the rights of others, even when they are not directly impacted, made Treasurer Suleiman Bulbulia very happy.
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“It is important that our next generation, our children, are also aware of what is happening and understand the importance of speaking and standing up for what is right, just and fair,” he noted to the media.
His remarks coincide with Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley’s remarks on the “horror and terror” and the extent of the devastation in Gaza, Palestine. The head of state of the nation declared that she could no longer overlook the conflict and its effects, particularly because it is being shown on television for people of all ages, ethnicities, and religions to see.
However, some Barbados continue to pose queries such as, “Where is Gaza?”, “What is the Gaza Strip?”, “How can electricity and water be turned off in a free country by another?” and more, it emphasizes the importance of teaching people about such a worldwide issue.
When asked if there was any action taking place in the neighborhood’s Muslim schools, such as enhanced teaching about the situation or more prayer for Palestine, Bulbulia said that instruction in Muslim schools is comprehensive and continuous.
“So yes, both actions are taking place. There are increased prayers and increase awareness and education [in our schools].”
However, some people throughout the world are finding this education to be challenging, thus it is acknowledged that not all teachers will be able to teach this subject. Globally, one ongoing struggle in the classroom is addressing and combating false information on the internet and social media as educators work to educate students about Hamas, the Gaza Strip, and the devastation occurring there as of 2023.
However, he said that there are several Muslim schools in Barbados that just provide religious instruction, in addition to the two Muslim schools that provide both religious and secular education.
The youngsters at the pro-Palestine demonstration ranged in age from newborns to toddlers to elementary school age, with some students from secondary schools present. Their signs said things like, “Free Palestine,” “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” “End the genocide,” “Resistance is not terrorism,” “We stand with Palestine,” and “To stand with Palestine is to stand with humanity.” They also said things like, “Privilege is when you think something is not your problem because YOU aren’t affected!!!”
One placard said, “I’m not from Syria, not from Palestine, nor from Afghanistan, or Iraq, but when you bleed, I bleed too because we are all One UMMAH,” which aimed to overcome any feelings of indifference and do away with the “What that got to do with me?” mentality being displayed by some Bajans. Muslims have a shared witness to the oneness of God, which unites them into a single ummah, or community. As the Church is to Christianity, so the Ummah is to Islam.
