Mahrang Baloch

Mahrang Baloch مھرانگ بلوچ (born ) is a Baloch human rights activist who advocates against alleged enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and other human rights abuses in Balochistan, Pakistan. Baloch leads the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC). On 28 July 2024, she participated in the Baloch Raji Muchi (Baloch National Gathering) in Gwadar, an event aimed at uniting the Baloch against these abuses.

Biography

Mahrang was born in 1993 into a Baloch family. Her father, Abdul Gaffar Langove, was an activist who raised his voice against humans rights violations in Pakistan.

Activism

On 12 December 2009, her father was abducted by Pakistani security forces while on his way to the hospital in Karachi, but he was later released. At 16, she began protesting his abduction and quickly became a prominent figure in the student resistance movement. In July 2011, her father was abducted again and later found dead, showing signs of torture.

In December 2017, her brother was also abducted but was subsequently released. Since then, she has emerged as a leading figure in the Baloch resistance movement, protesting against the government's extraction of natural resources from Balochistan. In 2020, she led a group of students in a protest against the proposed removal of the quota system at Bolan Medical College, which reserves spots for medical students from remote areas of the province. As a result of the group's activism and hunger strikes, the proposed policy change was cancelled.

Baloch has gained international support from prominent figures, including climate activist Greta Thunberg, who expressed her solidarity by tweeting, "Climate justice activists worldwide stand with Mahrang Baloch and other peaceful protesters who have been detained, tortured, and harassed by Islamabad Police for speaking out against human rights violations in Balochistan." This support emerged during the long march from Turbat to Islamabad, when Baloch women faced intense repression from state forces. Similarly, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai voiced her backing, tweeting, "I stand with my Baloch sisters who are demanding accountability for enforced disappearances. Peaceful protest is their right, and their voices must be heard."

Recent developments

2023 Baloch Long March

The Baloch Long March was a protest movement led by Baloch and other women activists from the Baloch Youth Congress (BYC). They journeyed from Turbat to Islamabad to protest human rights violations and enforced disappearances in Balochistan. According to the BYC, the protesters were detained by the Islamabad Police. Later, a bail was approved, leading to the release of some participants, although many remained missing, according to media reports and lawyers.

2024 ''Time'' magazine recognition and travel ban

In October 2024, ''Time'' magazine named Baloch one of the 100 emerging influential leaders of the year, recognising her extraordinary courage in opposing state oppression and her relentless advocacy against enforced disappearances and human rights violations in Balochistan. However, she was barred from traveling to New York City for a Time event and faced harassment at Jinnah International Airport. While returning home with Sammi Baloch, she endured further harassment from FIA officials, who confiscated her passport and mobile phone and attempted to abduct her. According to her lawyer, it was discovered that the Government of Pakistan had quietly added her to the ''Pakistan National Identity List'' (PNIL), a registry for individuals suspected of involvement in criminal activities such as terrorism, money laundering, and fraud – just days after she appeared on ''Time'' magazine's influential list on 3 October. In response, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan called for "freedom of movement" for Baloch, while Mary Lawlor, a UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defender, expressed deep concern on social media about the incident, citing reports of "harassment, intimidation and mistreatment".

Political harassment

On 11 October 2024, just days after Baloch was barred from traveling abroad, an anti-terrorism case was filed against her in the Malir District of Qaidabad by a local businessman. The complainant in the first information report accused Baloch of "inciting violence in his area", despite the Quaidabad station house officer being unable to confirm any such activities by Baloch or her colleagues. Baloch dismissed the charges as fabricated, attributing the case to the state's discomfort with her activism. She stated that such reports aim to intimidate those involved in their collective struggle.

2025 Arrest

On 22 March 2025, Baloch was arrested during a raid on a sit-in protest in Quetta. The Balochistan government accused her and other BYC activists of orchestrating an attack on Quetta Civil Hospital and inciting violence. Her arrest took place during a wider police crackdown on BYC demonstrations against enforced disappearances.

Controversy

Pakistani authorities have labeled Baloch as an instigator of anti-state sentiments. The government has accused her of promoting these sentiments and inciting unrest. In January 2024, an FIR was filed against her under Section 124-A (sedition) of the Pakistan Penal Code, alleging that her speeches criticised the state and could provoke public disorder. Officials claimed that her statements threatened national security and stability in Balochistan. In February 2024, government spokesperson Aqeel Malik expressed concerns regarding the BYC, suggesting that the group's protests and demonstrations extended beyond human rights advocacy, incorporating narratives that could be perceived as challenging state authority. Additionally, he alluded to the possibility of foreign influence shaping their activism.

Following her arrest on 22 March 2025, authorities linked Baloch to protests in Quetta, where clashes erupted between demonstrators and security forces. Officials claimed that a demonstration against enforced disappearances escalated into violence, with slogans and actions considered anti-state. However, human rights organisations and her supporters have refuted these allegations, asserting that the protests remained peaceful and that she is being unjustly targeted. While the Government of Pakistan views her activism as a potential challenge to national unity, her advocates argue that she is highlighting humanitarian concerns in Balochistan. These contrasting narratives underscore the broader tensions surrounding activism in the region.

Awards and nominations

In December 2024, Baloch was included in the BBC's 100 Women list. ''Time'' magazine also named Baloch in its TIME100 Next list, which "spotlights 100 rising stars who are shaping the future of business, entertainment, sports, politics, science, health and more".

In March 2025, Baloch confirmed through X that she has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2025.

Notes

References

External Link

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Short documentary
on Deutsche Welle

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baloch, Mahrang
Living people
1990s births
1993 births
People from Quetta
Baloch women
Human rights activists
Women human rights activists
21st-century women physicians
Baloch activists
21st-century Pakistani medical doctors