Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za
3-minute read
04 September 2025 | 15:20 CAT

📸 Nurain Saloojee making history as the youngest South African aboard the Global Sumud Fotilla. (Image – Global Movement to Gaza)

At just 22 years old, Audiology Graduate and Activist Nurain Saloojee has made history as the youngest South African aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla, a mission aimed at breaking the blockade on Gaza.

In an interview with Radio Islam International, Saloojee describes her decision to join the flotilla as an unavoidable moral duty. “It’s our duty and the responsibility of the entire Ummah for us to stand up for justice and stand up for what is right. When this opportunity arose, I couldn’t say no,” she explained.

Her parents, despite their initial fears, gave their full blessing. “Not even a second of doubt went into their mind. They said, Bismillah, you’re going in the path of Allah,” Saloojee recalled, emphasising that their faith and conviction inspired her courage.

Her activism, however, did not begin with this mission. From distributing pamphlets to organising demonstrations outside the U.S. Embassy and the Zionist Federation, Saloojee has long been part of sustained advocacy. “Every Friday, I’ve been standing in Rosebank from four to five for over a year now. It just shows the commitment you need in the struggle. The fight is not going to be won overnight,” she said.

She also credits the Palestine Solidarity Alliance (PSA) for shaping her activism, noting that the organisation taught her how to transform words into action.

The flotilla’s departure has been delayed due to weather and logistical challenges, but preparations remain underway. Participants undergo intensive trauma and scenario-based training to ensure they are mentally prepared. “Obviously, none of us have actually done this before. You have to know how to respond in certain situations. It’s a full-on training,” Saloojee explained.

For Saloojee, who had never been on a ship before, the experience is daunting yet deeply purposeful. “You don’t know if you even return. But you know that you’re doing it for Allah, for the freedom and liberation of Palestine. It’s what we were fighting for for so long. So you keep moving. You keep pushing.”

Her message to young South Africans is clear: “Your voice matters. Like in the South African struggle, the change came from the youth. We cannot just sit back and watch the ongoing genocide. Everyone has the power to create change.”

Listen to the full interview on Sabahul Muslim with Moulana Habib Bobat and Nurain Saloojee.