Sykes-Picot: A Colonial Legacy Framed as Stability and the Path to Ummah's True Unity

News:

Arabnews.com published an article titled: Why do some Arabs now see the Sykes-Picot Agreement as a solution?

The article discusses the historical impact of the Sykes-Picot Agreement, signed in 1916 between Great Britain and France. This agreement divided the Ottoman Empire and laid the foundation for the borders in the Middle East as we know them today. The article claims that, although this agreement divided the region, it may have been the "least bad" scenario compared to the current chaos and instability in the region. It suggests that this division brought a certain form of stability, despite its problematic colonial origins. In this light, the agreement is almost presented as a form of damage control, given the current conflicts and fragmentation.

Comment:

The Sykes-Picot Agreement and the colonial division of the Middle East were not isolated events but part of a broader colonial project that still continues today. This project is characterized by the manipulation of public opinion and the shaping of people's thinking, particularly in Muslim countries, through disinformation and deception.

The article’s suggestion that the Sykes-Picot Agreement and the subsequent division of Muslim lands were the "least bad scenario" fits directly into this colonial narrative. It is a subtle way of justifying the colonial project and promoting its acceptance by implying that any form of change or resistance would lead to even more chaos and division. This mindset fosters passivity, encouraging people to maintain the current system out of fear of further instability.

This type of manipulation is similar to tactics proposed by the US for Palestine concerning the two-state solution. “Israel” initially occupied large portions of land, and by “returning” only a fraction, the Muslims must accept this as a "good deal" and solution for the occupation. In a similar way, the Sykes-Picot Agreement is now presented as a reasonable solution, thereby legitimizing the Western colonial project. This manipulative tactic leads people to accept the colonial legacy rather than resist it, believing that any change will inevitably lead to more chaos.

Furthermore, this manipulation deeply affects the Ummah. The acceptance of the nation-state structure, introduced by colonial powers, has led to the weakening, division, and humiliation of the Muslim world. This concept of the nation-state is, in fact, the core problem, as it has undermined the unity of the Ummah and transformed Muslim countries into isolated entities that no longer share a united, strong identity. This has resulted in a situation where Muslims are divided, weakened, and subjugated by external powers.

The real solution lies in the Ummah. Thinking for itself and understanding and applying the sublime and strong ideas that Islam offers. Islam provides a vision of unity, strength, and justice, and by embracing these principles, the Ummah. can escape manipulation and redirect its energy toward collective progress. The definitive solution for all Muslim countries is to unite under one state and one leader, according to what Islam prescribes, not what the colonial Western policies prescribes and dictates. Only through unity and the restoration of a single Khilafah (Caliphate) state can the Ummah regain its strength and resist further colonial manipulation and take its true position in the geopolitical stage.

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Okay Pala
Media Representative of Hizb ut Tahrir in The Netherlands