A Sunni cleric in Iran inspires protesters, challenges the government

By Babak Dehghanpisheh

Fridays in southeastern Iran have become days of rage and resistance. As they have for weeks, protesters marched through the streets after Friday prayers in Zahedan, the capital of Sistan and Baluchistan province, which has become a pivotal front in the anti-government uprising sweeping Iran.

In one video posted on social media, hundreds of men walk together through the dusty streets chanting “Death to Khamenei,” a reference to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. A video from a different part of the city shows a smaller group of women demonstrating: “Whether with hijab or without hijab, we’re going toward revolution,” they chant in unison. In another clip, shots can be heard in the background.

Terra nullius

The non-local rulers not only refused to integrate with locals but also considered learning their language below their dignity. Imposition of Urdu as the compulsory national language soon after partition was a manifestation of the terra nullius mindset

Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur

In 1770 Lieutenant James Cook claimed possession of the whole east coast of Australia by raising the British flag at Possession Island off the northern tip of the Cape York Peninsula — after declaring it terra nullius (empty land). Terra nullius is not a geographical term but is a political concept adopted by the colonialists in which people simply cease to matter. They chose to declare Australia terra nullius not because they were unaware of the people living there but because they considered the indigenous people as irrelevant and inconsequential.

People cannot be wished away and confrontation erupted once the first fleet of British convicts, soldiers and officials arrived in Australia in 1788. In 1790 the Aboriginal chief Pemulwuy with his son Tedbury led guerrilla-style resistance, which lasted several years.

Dec 05: Mir Gul Khan Nasir