The legal action being sought by retail chain, Cape Union Mart, and its owner Philip Krawitz is aimed at intimidating and silencing sustained boycott campaign for justice, peace, freedom and equality for Palestinians.
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) says it’s a blatant attempt to weaponise the courts to shield corporate interests from public accountability. In the interdict application in the Western Cape High Court – Cape Union Mart and Krawitz – indirectly admit that the weekly protests outside their stores and boycott campaign are working.
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They state that they have sustained reputational harm and economic losses. The applicants want the court to interdict and restrain five named activists in the papers as well as unidentified protesters from allegedly “harassing” and “intimidating” customers.
The PSC has indicated that it’s consulting with legal experts, human rights defenders, and civil society allies to prepare its next steps.
