Throughout history, the struggle for freedom and justice has often been met with oppression, vilification, and the deliberate mislabeling of resistance movements as “terrorism.” This pattern, rooted in colonial and oppressive ideologies, seeks to delegitimize those who dare to challenge tyranny and fight for the rights of their people. From Nelson Mandela to Bhagat Singh, from Yasser Arafat to Ho Chi Minh, the world has witnessed countless leaders who were branded as “terrorists” by their oppressors, only to later be celebrated as symbols of liberation and justice.
Nelson Mandela, one of the most revered figures of the 20th century, spent 27 years in prison under South Africa’s apartheid regime, which labeled him a terrorist for his resistance. Even after his release and the fall of apartheid, the United States kept Mandela on its terrorist watchlist until 2008—a stark reminder of how colonial and oppressive systems perpetuate narratives that criminalize freedom fighters. Mandela’s eventual rise to become a global icon of justice underscores the hypocrisy of such labels. As he famously stated, “But we know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians,” drawing a direct parallel between the struggles against apartheid in South Africa and the ongoing Palestinian resistance.
Similarly, in India, leaders like Bhagat Singh and Subhas Chandra Bose were branded as terrorists by British colonial rulers for their defiance against imperial rule. Bhagat Singh, a revolutionary who fought for India’s independence, was executed by the British at the age of 23. Subhas Chandra Bose, who sought alliances to liberate India from colonial rule, was similarly vilified. Even Mahatma Gandhi, whose philosophy of non-violence inspired global movements, was imprisoned by the British as a destabilizing figure. These leaders, now celebrated as national heroes, were once criminalized by the very systems they sought to dismantle.
The pattern extends beyond South Africa and India. Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya’s first president, was imprisoned by the British for his role in the Mau Mau uprising, a movement that sought to end colonial rule. Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian leader, was frequently labeled a terrorist by Israel and its allies for his resistance to occupation, despite his eventual recognition as a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Fidel Castro, who led Cuba’s revolution against a U.S.-backed dictatorship, was targeted by the U.S. government for decades. Michael Collins, a key figure in Ireland’s fight for independence, was considered a terrorist by the British during the Irish War of Independence. Patrice Lumumba, the first democratically elected leader of Congo, was assassinated with the complicity of colonial powers for his anti-imperialist stance. Robert Mugabe, despite his later controversies, was imprisoned for opposing white minority rule in Zimbabwe. Ho Chi Minh, who fought against French colonialism and later U.S. intervention in Vietnam, was demonized by Western powers. Emiliano Zapata, a leader of the Mexican Revolution, was vilified and assassinated for his efforts to reclaim land and rights for the oppressed.
These examples reveal a recurring theme: those who resist oppression are often labeled as terrorists by the very forces that seek to maintain control. This narrative is not confined to the past. Today, the Palestinian struggle against Zionist occupation and apartheid is frequently met with the same accusations. Hamas, a movement born out of decades of occupation, displacement, and violence against Palestinians, is often labeled a terrorist organization by Western powers and their allies. Yet, as history has shown, such labels are often tools of oppression, designed to delegitimize resistance and silence calls for justice.
The hypocrisy of these labels becomes even more apparent when considering the actions of those who apply them. Colonial powers and oppressive regimes have historically perpetrated violence, exploitation, and systemic injustice, yet they frame resistance to their rule as terrorism. This double standard exposes the moral bankruptcy of such narratives. As Nelson Mandela’s life and legacy demonstrate, history ultimately vindicates those who fight for justice, no matter how they are labeled in their time.
The struggle for freedom is universal, and the stories of these leaders remind us that the line between “terrorist” and “freedom fighter” is often drawn by those in power. To truly understand and support justice, we must look beyond these labels and recognize the root causes of resistance: oppression, inequality, and the denial of basic human rights. As Mandela’s words remind us, the fight for freedom is interconnected, and it is only by standing in solidarity with all oppressed peoples that we can achieve a just and equitable world.
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