Heritage in Fabric: Symbols of Unity

From the quiet streets of Limerick to the loud cries of Gaza, from Sindh’s dry riverbeds to the bombed buildings of Rafah, we are not alone.

We must not act alone. The time has come to recognize each other, and to stand—calmly, clearly, and firmly—for a world where dignity, not power, defines what is right.

Dr. Mohammad Mataro Hingorjo | Ireland

In the city of Limerick, Ireland, during regular protests in support of the people of Palestine for past 2 years, I and my Father Prof Muhammad Hingorjo, who is a Sindhi writer, poet and social activist, quietly attend the protests organized by Ireland – Palestinian Solidarity Network. We wear the traditional Sindhi ajrak and the Palestinian keffiyeh, and carry the flags of Ireland and Palestine. We do this not to be noticed, but to send a silent message: that Sindh, too, stands with Palestine, and that oppressed people across the world share a common struggle.

We are not part of any group, nor do we represent any organization. Our participation is personal. As Sindhis, we carry our history and our pain with us, even in silence. The ajrak on our shoulders represents Sindh, a land often forgotten in international conversations. By placing it next to the keffiyeh, we are reminding the world that the story of Sindh is not so different from the story of Palestine. We, too, know what it means to be denied our rights, our water, our language, our land.

The Palestinian keffiyeh is no longer just a piece of cloth. It has become a global symbol of resistance. It stands for the bravery of Palestinians resisting occupation, but it also speaks for other people around the world who face injustice—First Nations in the Americas and Australia, the Kurds, Kashmiris, Sindhis, Baloch, Saraikis, Pashtuns, and so many others. These are people who live without freedom, whose histories are being erased, and whose futures are under threat.

The keffiyeh also speaks for those who live in the middle of war zones—Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Sudan, Ukraine, and Lebanon—where global powers, whether from the West, East, or their own regions, continue to treat human lives as tools for control and profit. These wars may seem separate, but they are connected. They are all part of a larger system that thrives on division, silence, and violence.

This is why we believe the ajrak also belongs among the symbols of resistance. Like the keffiyeh, it carries deep cultural meaning. But today, it can also stand for dignity, identity, and defiance. The ajrak is not just a fabric—it is a voice, and that voice must be heard.

We carry the Irish flag in these protests as well, because Ireland’s role is unique. Irish people, more than most, understand the pain of occupation and the value of solidarity. While powerful countries speak of human rights but continue to support wars and oppression, Ireland has often stood on the side of justice—speaking clearly for Palestine, and refusing to follow the crowd when it comes to conflicts like Ukraine. In this way, Ireland has shown that you do not need to be powerful to stand for what is right. You just need to act with courage and conscience. You just need to be Irish at heart.

Sindh, like Palestine, continues to suffer. Our water is being stolen, our land taken under projects like the Green Pakistan Initiative, and our people pushed to the edge. These are not just environmental issues—they are political, and they are serious. For us, wearing the ajrak and keffiyeh together, standing under the flags of Ireland and Palestine, is a way to say: we see the truth, we stand with others who suffer, and we believe that justice is not limited by geography.

All oppressed people are equal. Their pain is equal. Their voices matter equally. Now is the time to stand together—across religions, races, and languages—and face the systems that divide and exploit us. If we do not support one another, we risk being silenced one by one.

From the quiet streets of Limerick to the loud cries of Gaza, from Sindh’s dry riverbeds to the bombed buildings of Rafah, we are not alone. And we must not act alone. The time has come to recognize each other, and to stand—calmly, clearly, and firmly—for a world where dignity, not power, defines what is right.

Read – Opinion: A Call for Justice

________________

Dr. Muhammad Mataro Hingorjo is a Family Physician originally from village Dhandhi Hingorja, Tharpakar, Sindh, currently residing in Limerick Ireland.