Symposium on Unbroken Bond: Tracing the Ties Between African and Palestinian Anti-Colonial Struggles – Chains of Oppression: The Interconnected Struggles for Justice in Palestine, Kashmir and Sudan

[Mariam Hiba Malik is an international lawyer and LL.M. in International Law Candidate at the Geneva Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, specialising in the Protection of the Individual in International law]

The recent ICJ Advisory Opinion on the illegality of Israel’s occupation in Palestine underscores the international community’s recognition of systemic injustices and the urgency for enforcing existing legal frameworks to address such violations. Palestinians’ resistance against occupation and their struggle for self-determination have important parallels to the battles against systemic oppression and colonial remnants in Kashmir and Sudan. Insights from revolutionary thinkers like Edward Said, Arundhati Roy, and Frantz Fanon highlight the necessity for transnational solidarity in anti-colonial resistance. Through an examination of these regions, this post uncovers how enduring colonial legacies and modern geopolitical manoeuvres perpetuate cycles of oppression, revealing the need for a unified, informed approach to achieving global justice.

Parallels in Oppression

The conflicts in Palestine, Kashmir and Sudan are shaped by the overlapping influences of historical injustices and modern geopolitical agendas, leading to prolonged struggles for justice and self-determination.

In Palestine, over half a century of illegal Israeli occupation has systematically marginalized and displaced Palestinians. The recent escalation of violence in Gaza, marked by allegations of genocide and severe human rights abuses by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF), has intensified global condemnation. The resistance movements and uprisings (intifadas) have been met with harsh crackdowns, reflecting the dire need for international intervention. 

Kashmir has remained a contested region since the 1947 partition of British India, with India’s subsequent militarization, especially through laws like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), leading to significant human rights violations and suppression of the Kashmiri people’s fight for self-determination. This has worsened the conflict and locked the region in an unending cycle of violence and resistance.

In Sudan, the recent escalation of violence between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), exacerbated by the United Arab Emirates (UAE)’s military and financial backing, highlights the detrimental impact of foreign intervention. The UAE’s support has emboldened the RSF, leading to intensified atrocities and further destabilization across the Horn of Africa. This underscores how external powers manipulate local conflicts to serve their geopolitical interests, often worsening human rights abuses and undermining regional stability.

Each of these regions, distinct in their histories and conflicts, faces a common enemy in the form of militarization, enforced legal suppression, demographic manipulation, and strategic media censorship. 

Militarisation and Occupation

In Kashmir, the deployment of over 700,000 Indian troops parallels the extensive Israeli military presence in Palestinian territories. This overwhelming force aims not only to suppress resistance but also to exert constant psychological pressure on the civilian population. Similarly, the UAE’s financial and military support to the RSF in Sudan has resulted in severe human rights abuses and civilian suffering. These militarised strategies are not isolated; they are interconnected methods of maintaining dominance and control.

Edward Said’s concept of “Orientalism” reveals how the West constructs narratives of the “Other” to justify domination. This dehumanization frames Palestinian and Kashmiri resistance as terrorism, legitimizing military force and portraying occupied populations as inherently violent and irrational. Said’s insights underscore the psychological impact of militarization, where narrative manipulation supports ongoing control by justifying extreme measures against these populations. Although neither the UAE nor India consider themselves part of the ‘West’, they adopt these colonial narratives and strategies to assert power, drawing on the same tactics of control, resources, and geopolitical influence.

It could also be suggested that India and the UAE’s actions could be a quid pro quo, receiving tacit approval or support from European powers in exchange for their alignment with Western geopolitical interests. This reciprocal relationship allows these countries to pursue their own regional ambitions with less fear of international backlash. Alternatively, this could represent the dynamics of transnational white supremacy, where established powers identify and corrupt other potential allies to maintain a global system of dominance. By aligning with powerful nations like Israel and supporting oppressive measures, India and the UAE may be seeking to integrate into a broader network of influence and control.

Frantz Fanon’s analysis in “The Wretched of the Earth” complements this by exploring how colonial powers use military force to maintain control and instil fear among the colonized. Fanon argues that violence is a fundamental mechanism of colonial rule, used to suppress resistance and assert dominance. This perspective is crucial for understanding the pervasive militarization in Palestine, Kashmir, and Sudan as tools of ongoing colonial and neo-colonial control. Militarization in these contexts is not merely a reaction to conflict but a proactive strategy to maintain the oppressive status quo.

Use of Draconian Laws

India’s AFSPA in Kashmir grants the military sweeping powers, including arbitrary arrests and detention without trial, creating an environment of impunity where human rights violations are routine. Similarly, Israeli legal frameworks enable the IOF to suppress Palestinian resistance with near impunity. In Sudan, the UAE’s support for the RSF, including military shipments that breach U.N. arms embargoes, reflects a blatant disregard for international law and human rights. These legal frameworks are not just tools of repression but mechanisms that legitimize and perpetuate state violence.

Arundhati Roy, in her works such as “Kashmir: The Case for Freedom” critiques India’s use of such legal mechanisms, highlighting how they stifle resistance and maintain state control. Her observations align with Said’s critique of legal structures being manipulated to perpetuate colonial and neo-colonial control. Roy’s insights reveal that these laws are designed to erode democratic norms and institutionalise oppression, making dissent illegal and punishable. This demonstrates how legal instruments are systematically used to justify and perpetuate state dominance over marginalized populations.

Fanon adds that these laws are part of a larger strategy to criminalize dissent and legitimize state violence, maintaining a semblance of order while perpetuating injustice. By portraying resistance as criminal activity, states can justify harsh crackdowns and suppress political opposition under the guise of maintaining law and order.

Demographic Engineering

In Kashmir, policies aimed at settling more Hindus are designed to change the region’s demographic balance, diluting the majority Muslim population to consolidate control. This demographic engineering is perceived as a direct threat to the cultural and religious identity of the indigenous population, fuelling further resistance. 

Israeli settlements in Occupied Palestine function similarly through the violent dispossession Palestinian communities from their land and the expansion of Israeli dominance. These settlements fragment the social and geographic cohesion of Palestinian areas, making it difficult for Palestinians to sustain a continuous and viable community structure. By strategically placing these settlements, Israel not only enhances its physical and administrative control but also alters the demographic landscape to its advantage through this settler colonialism. This diminishes Palestinian claims to the land by establishing “facts on the ground” that favour Israeli interests, thereby undermining efforts towards a two-state solution and the potential for a contiguous Palestinian state.

The UAE’s motives in Sudan, including controlling seaports and agricultural land, reflect similar demographic and economic engineering. These strategies aim to establish long-term dominance and control, often resulting in severe human rights abuses and resistance from local populations.

The legacy of colonialism continues to shape these conflicts, emphasizing the artificial borders and imposed divisions that still cause suffering. Roy aptly encapsulates this ongoing injustice stating “How carelessly imperial power vivisected ancient civilizations. Palestine and Kashmir are imperial Britain’s festering, blood-drenched gifts to the modern world”. Demographic engineering is therefore not just about numbers but about erasing identities and disrupting communities to weaken resistance.

Fanon’s writings emphasize the psychological trauma and social disruption caused by such demographic manipulations. Fanon argues that colonial powers deliberately alter demographics to weaken the colonized, making resistance more difficult by breaking up cohesive communities and instilling a sense of powerlessness. This manipulation is a deliberate strategy to fragment societies and prevent the formation of unified resistance movements.

Suppression of Civilian Resistance and Intifada

Civilian resistance in Kashmir, characterized by street protests and stone-pelting, mirrors the tactics seen during the Palestinian Intifadas. These forms of resistance symbolize the collective struggle against occupation and serve as powerful statements of defiance. By framing these protests as law-and-order issues, India attempts to delegitimize the political grievances behind them, a tactic long used by Israel to manage Palestinian resistance. In Sudan, the RSF’s violent suppression of protests, facilitated by UAE support, demonstrates a brutal response to resistance. This alignment of oppressive tactics highlights a global pattern where external powers support local forces to suppress civilian resistance and maintain control.

Said emphasized the importance of cultural and intellectual opposition to occupation, arguing that resistance is not only a physical act but also a cultural and intellectual one. This is crucial in understanding the broader implications of civilian resistance in Palestine, Kashmir, and Sudan, where narratives are contested, and identities reclaimed. Said’s insights reveal that cultural resistance is vital for maintaining the spirit and identity of oppressed communities, challenging the hegemonic narratives imposed by occupiers.

The concept of decolonization as a transformative process that involves reclaiming identity and culture supports this view. Fanon for example sees resistance as not merely a struggle for political freedom but as a fundamental reclaiming of humanity and dignity, challenging the dehumanising narratives imposed by colonial powers. Therefore, true liberation requires dismantling both the physical and psychological structures of colonial rule.

Media Manipulation and Censorship

Media manipulation and censorship are significant tools used by both India and Israel to control narratives and suppress dissent. The suppression of Kashmiri voices and frequent internet shutdowns mirror the digital censorship faced by Palestinians. The murder of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh and its subsequent downplaying by Israeli authorities highlight controlled media narratives to avoid accountability. In Sudan, the UAE-backed RSF commits atrocities with limited international scrutiny, facilitated by a controlled narrative. The systematic control of information allows occupying powers to maintain a favourable public image while continuing repressive policies.

Said’s critique of media representations in the West highlights the role of media in shaping perceptions of the Middle East and other conflict zones. He argued that biased media coverage perpetuates stereotypes and justifies imperial actions. Understanding media manipulation in Palestine, Kashmir, and Sudan is crucial to recognizing the role of information control in maintaining transnational oppression.

Surveillance and Technology

The export of Israeli surveillance technology to India enhances the capabilities of both Indian and Israeli forces to monitor and control occupied populations. The pervasive use of surveillance equipment allows for detailed monitoring of individuals and communities, suppressing resistance movements. The UAE’s involvement in Sudan, including advanced weaponry and military support, demonstrates how surveillance and military technology are used to maintain oppressive regimes. Advanced surveillance and military technologies facilitate high levels of control over civilian populations, ensuring that dissent is swiftly detected and suppressed. This underscores the broader networks of military cooperation and the global implications of such tactics. 

Concluding Remarks: Transnational Solidarity in Anti-Colonialism

The recent ICJ Advisory Opinion on the illegality of Israel’s occupation in Palestine provides a critical acknowledgment from the World Court, recognising the legitimacy of the Palestinian struggle against occupation and systemic oppression. The opinion emphasises that Israel’s actions, including the construction of settlements and the annexation of Palestinian territories, are flagrant violations of international law and the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people. Such a powerful legal assessment not only underscores the grave injustices Palestinians face but also validates the broader anti-colonial struggles in Kashmir and Sudan. It highlights the urgent need to enforce existing international legal frameworks to address these violations and serves as a powerful tool for transnational solidarity in resisting colonial and neo-colonial oppression by exerting political and moral pressure on oppressive regimes to abide by international law.

The interconnectedness of these struggles highlights the necessity for transnational solidarity in anti-colonial resistance. The support provided by multiple European states to legitimize Israel’s actions, and the active suppression of Palestinian resistance, is mirrored in the complex relationships involving India and the UAE. The participation of former colonies and protectorates–like India and the UAE–in ongoing colonial oppression adds another layer of complexity. Their support for Israel and contributions to the violence in Kashmir and Sudan raise critical questions about their motivations and the broader implications.

Roy and Said’s insights reveal the intricate ways colonial legacies and cultural imperialism shape modern geopolitics. Roy emphasizes how these legacies perpetuate systemic oppression, while Said critiques the narratives that justify such power structures. Their analyses underscore the necessity of challenging these interconnected systems through global solidarity. Fanon deepens this understanding by highlighting the psychological and cultural impacts of colonization, arguing that true liberation requires dismantling the colonial mindset and reclaiming identity and agency. This comprehensive approach to anti-colonial resistance addresses both external oppression and its internalised effects, emphasising the interconnectedness of these struggles and the need for a unified response.

Photo attribution: “Berlin march in solidarity with the Sudanese revolution” by Hossam el-Hamalawy is licenced under CC BY 2.0.