Might and Myths Should Not Rule

Justice for the oppressed is justice for humanity. Justice demands respect for all peoples’ history and rights—not myths, colonialism, or military force

Dr. Muhammad Mataro Hingorjo | Ireland

Imagine a group of people who claim ancient and sacred ties to a land based on religious stories or mythology. Suppose they demand the right to take back that land today, pushing out the people who currently live there, simply because of those old connections. Would that claim be fair or just? Would the international community accept such a demand as legitimate?

This analogy helps us understand the tragic reality faced by Palestinians since 1948, when the state of Israel was created through violence and the forced removal of hundreds of thousands of indigenous Palestinians—a catastrophe known as the Nakba. Palestinians have lived on that land for centuries, and their connection to it is real and ongoing.

Yet, much of the world accepts Israel’s legitimacy—not because its founding was just, but because global powers protect their own interests. Ancient religious narratives are sometimes used selectively to justify land claims, while similar claims by others are dismissed. This reveals a dangerous double standard, where might and politics determine justice.

The international community should not support claims to land based solely on myths or the duration of an occupation. A long-lasting occupation does not make it legal or moral. When an occupying force uses “self-defense” to justify actions that protect an occupation, it is defending the illegal occupation, not acting legitimately.

No one should be expected to accept a thief’s right to keep a stolen home simply because they have lived there for years and raised families. The rights of Palestinians to their homes, land, and self-determination must be the foundation for any real peace.

Justice demands respect for all peoples’ history and rights—not myths, colonialism, or military force. The world must reject occupation and support the Palestinians’ rightful struggle for their homeland. Only then can peace and fairness be possible.

The same principle applies to many other nations around the world who are fighting for their historical identity and ancestral lands—such as the Sindhis, Kashmiris, Balochs, Kurds, and others. Their legitimate claims to land and resources deserve equal respect and international recognition.

Justice demands respect for all peoples’ history and rights—not myths, colonialism, or military force. The world must reject occupation and support the rightful struggles of all oppressed peoples. Only then can peace and fairness be possible.

Justice for the oppressed is justice for humanity.

Justice for the oppressed is justice for humanity.

Read: A Call for Justice

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