Last week rapper / activist Yasiin Bey aka Mos Def was arrested in South Africa after presenting an unrecognized World Passport at Cape Town International airport as he attempted to leave the country [click here if you missed that].
A rep for Yasiin explains what happened...
From OkayAfrica
What is your take on the allegations?
From what I’ve read their allegations are wrong. He attempted to leave the country for a professional commitment and was denied the ability to board an airplane after providing his World Passport.
Why does he have a World Passport?
It’s issued by the World Service —in support of the UN Declaration of Human Rights. His understanding is that the South African government has previously accepted the World Passport to enter the country and to provide visas as recently as August.
Are there political reasons he prefers not to use his US passport?
Social and political, yes. He shouldn’t be forced to use his US passport.
Why not use a US passport?
He considers himself a world citizen and wanted to to use his World Passport in support of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.
Although South Africa did not sign the declaration in 1948 — probably because they were governed by Apartheid at the time — Nelson Mandela believed it was a necessary document for the continued growth of South Africa after the abolishment of Apartheid.
Does he believe the US guilty of human rights violations?
Read the full exchange hereGenerally speaking, various state and local law enforcement bodies have violated the most fundamental human right — that is the right to life of several young, unarmed, black men.
