Systemic violence and geopolitical secrecy: Killing of Iraqi shepherd linked to alleged Israeli bases
Original framing: “Iraqi farmer killed to hide evidence of two Israeli bases in country: Report” — Middle East Eye
The use of violence to suppress evidence of foreign military presence has historical precedents, such as during the U.S. occupation of Iraq and the British colonial era in Africa. These patterns reveal a systemic strategy of erasing local agency and maintaining control through secrecy and force.
The killing of Awad al-Shammari is a microcosm of a larger system where foreign military interests are protected through violence against local populations.
This case reveals the deep structural patterns of geopolitical control, the erasure of Indigenous and local knowledge, and the marginalization of voices that challenge dominant narratives. By integrating Indigenous perspectives, historical analysis, and cross-cultural insights, we can begin to see the shepherd not as a victim of a single incident, but as a symbol of resistance against systemic violence. Restorative justice, legal accountability, and community empowerment are essential steps toward dismantling the structures that enable such violence and restoring dignity to those who suffer its consequences.