If eyes are the window to the soul, we are looking at the soul of fear & a profound sadness. We are also looking at the soul of a freedom fighter.

Nationalists will look at this young man with a rock in his hand & a knife in his mouth & bray like jackasses about stone pelters & a knifing intifada. But they would miss what’s most compelling here: that his youth is being stolen from him, that he could go home & submit to occupation & colonialism but has chosen to risk his life for freedom.

We should take a moment to honor all the young freedom fighters like him & to honor the photojournalists who risk their lives to document the occupation so that we may understand & become part of the Kashmiri struggle by rendering active solidarity.

End the occupation. Self-determination for Kashmir. A salute to freedom fighters & to photojournalists on the front lines of struggle.

(Photo by Basit Zargar)