Imtiaz Sooliman: Gift of the Givers’ Man of Peace

Allegations Regarding Antisemitic Rhetoric and Conspiracy Tropes

Imtiaz Sooliman (founder and leader of Gift of the Givers) has repeatedly made statements invoking classic antisemitic conspiracy tropes about Jewish/Zionist global control through money, fear, power, and influence. Critics (including the South African Jewish Board of Deputies, SA Jewish Report, JNS, and analysts like David May of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies) describe these as antisemitic because they echo longstanding myths of Jewish world domination, often using “Zionists” as a substitute for “Jews” while denying the label of antisemitism and accusing critics of abusing the term.

Key statements made by Sooliman

  • October 5, 2024, Cape Town rally (marking the first anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks, held under a “We are all Hamas” banner with Hamas/Hezbollah flags displayed):
  • “Every time we protested, the Zionists were too clever. They were arrogant, acting with impunity, putting fear into you. … They run the world with fear. They control the world with money. And every time you say something, they terrify you and they say it’s antisemitic. But I’ve got a message for them. Find a new narrative, this one is dull, boring, and stupid.”
  • November 23, 2024, Congress of Business and Economics gala in Johannesburg (praising South Africa’s ICJ case against Israel):
  • “The ICJ case did something more important than taking Israel to court. It showed them that we have nothing to fear. Because they rule the world with fear, with money, with power, with influence. They’re getting away with their deception, their lies, their control, and their power. It’s time to expose who they are, what they do, the lies they speak, the people they control.”
  • He added: “This war isn’t the end of Gaza, this war is the end of Israel. It’s going to happen very, very soon.”
  • Sooliman has also called Israel “baby killers, murderers of innocent civilians, journalists, health care and humanitarian-aid workers” and declared he follows only Koranic law (not international or human law), claiming “Allah himself has instructed me.”

Statements/actions by Gift of the Givers (the organization)

The organization (under Sooliman’s leadership) has amplified similar content on its platforms:

  • February 4, 2026: Gift of the Givers shared a TikTok video (captioned “You cannot be a Christian and support Israel”) by South African creator Dene Cohen. It claims Christians cannot support Israel, calls support for Israel “an abomination and a heresy,” and alleges that “modern-day Zionists” and Jews teach their children that Jesus is a “pervert” and “sinner” condemned to a “pot of hot excrement” (a distorted reference to Talmudic texts). It also calls Jews “identity thieves” who are “not the original Israelites” and accuses them of faking Jewish identity while committing “genocide.” The organization encouraged donations to its Palestine work alongside the post.
  • Its Facebook page has hosted unmoderated antisemitic comments (e.g., “synagogue of Satan,” caricatures of Jews) and graphics promoting conspiracy theories.
  • Sooliman and Gift of the Givers defenders (e.g., some South African Muslim organizations) reject all antisemitism accusations as “Zionist propaganda” or attempts to silence criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza. They frame the comments as anti-Zionist political speech about Israeli government policies, not hatred of Jews as a people.
  • These are the main publicly documented examples repeatedly cited in South African and international reporting. No verified quotes from Sooliman involve direct Holocaust denial or explicit “Jews” (vs. “Zionists”), but the tropes about secret global control are widely recognized as antisemitic under definitions like the IHRA working definition.

UCT Honorary Doctorate for Dr Imtiaz Sooliman: Questions Arising

On 30 March, the University of Cape Town (UCT) is scheduled to confer an honorary doctorate on Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of Gift of the Givers.

It is relevant to note that at least two current UCT Council members have identifiable associations with Dr Sooliman and his organisation:

  • Dianna Yach (Chair of the Human Resources Committee) is recorded as having facilitated a donation of R1 million to Gift of the Givers in September 2025 through the Mauerberger Foundation Fund.
  • Reeza Isaacs (Chair of the Finance Committee) has been publicly associated with Dr Sooliman in connection with a corporate partnership initiative, as reflected in a February 2026 Gift of the Givers social media post.

Both individuals serve on the UCT Council, the body responsible for approving honorary degrees.

UCT to confer honorary doctorates on Dr Imtiaz Sooliman and Mr Cornelius Werner.

Source: Facebook

Dr Sooliman has also made a number of public statements that have drawn scrutiny and criticism. These include remarks in which he described himself as “5000% antisemitic” in the context of what he characterised as “telling the truth”, as well as statements indicating that he follows “Quranic law” rather than “international law or human law”, and comments suggesting familiarity with moving cash outside conventional systems and disregarding legal constraints. These statements have been cited by critics as raising concerns about his public positioning.

Dr. Imtiaz Sooliman and Diana Yach announce a R1 million contribution for Gaza initiatives.
Source: Facebook

In addition, commentary and reports have drawn attention to historical associations involving organisations linked to Dr Sooliman.

  • Gift of the Givers has been referenced in connection with the Union of Good, a coalition founded by Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi. The Union of Good was designated by the US Treasury in 2008 as part of a Hamas-linked fundraising network.
  • Qaradawi, who has been widely criticised for statements endorsing violence against Israeli civilians and expressing extreme antisemitic views, is reported to have presented Dr Sooliman with an award recognising his work in relation to Palestine.
  • It has also been reported that Dr Sooliman acknowledged past funding of the Al Aqsa Foundation, which has been designated by the US Treasury as part of Hamas’ support infrastructure.

New collaborations between Gift of the Givers and Spar Group
Source: Facebook

These matters form part of an ongoing public debate and are contested in various respects.

In light of the above, questions have been raised regarding:

  • The governance process through which the honorary degree was approved
  • Whether potential conflicts of interest were adequately considered
  • How UCT evaluates recipients of its highest honours in the context of public statements, associations, and reputational considerations

These are questions of institutional process and public accountability that arise in the context of this decision.

Legal Disclaimer: 

This page presents a summary of publicly available allegations and attributed statements concerning Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of Gift of the Givers, based on referenced and publicly accessible material.

This content is published in the public interest, with the aim of contributing to informed public discourse, transparency, and the broader well-being of society on matters of significant public concern.

The page distinguishes clearly between:

• Allegations made by authors, commentators, and investigative reports

• Statements directly attributed to Dr Sooliman

• Verified responses issued by Dr Sooliman

All information has been drawn from sources believed to be reliable and is accurately reflected to the best of our knowledge, with links provided for full context.

This page does not assert or imply guilt, nor does it make definitive findings of fact. It should be understood as a fair, good-faith summary of claims, commentary, and public positions that are already in the public domain.

Readers are encouraged to review the original source material and form their own conclusions.