HRF Demands Immediate Release of Mahrang Baloch, Slams 'Politically Motivated' Trial
The Human Rights Foundation calls for the release of Mahrang Baloch, citing politically motivated charges and deteriorating health in Pakistani custody.
The New York-based Human Rights Foundation (HRF) has issued an urgent call to Pakistani authorities for the release of Dr Mahrang Baloch, the chief organiser of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC). In a detailed statement, the foundation raised alarms over her deteriorating health and the lack of transparency surrounding her legal proceedings, describing the terrorism charges against her as "politically motivated."
Concerns Over a 'Faceless Trial'
According to reports from The Balochistan Post, HRF has questioned the fairness of the trial conducted against the activist. Mahrang was arrested in March 2025 during a peaceful sit-in, which was organised to protest the deaths of three individuals during a demonstration the previous day. Following her arrest, she was prosecuted under Pakistan’s stringent Anti-Terrorism Act.
The foundation highlighted several irregularities in the judicial process, noting that while hearings took place inside the prison, Mahrang was only permitted to participate via a video link. This arrangement, HRF argues, denied her the ability to participate effectively in her own defense. Furthermore, the proceedings were kept shielded from the public, as journalists and outside observers were strictly barred from attending.
Nadia Baloch, Mahrang's sister and a member of her legal team, has gone a step further, describing the entire process as a "faceless trial."
Life Imprisonment and Health Alarms
The legal battle reached a critical point on June 22, 2026, when an anti-terrorism court in Quetta sentenced Mahrang Baloch and fellow BYC leader Sibghatullah Shahji to life imprisonment. The conviction is linked to the killing of Frontier Corps soldier Shabir Ahmed during a protest in Gwadar. However, Mahrang’s legal team has categorically rejected the verdict, challenging the legitimacy of the proceedings.
Beyond the legalities, HRF expressed deep concern over reports that Mahrang’s health has declined significantly while in custody. The foundation has demanded that she be provided with adequate and immediate medical care.
A Legacy of Struggle: Mahrang's Letter from Prison
In a poignant letter shared via The Balochistan Post, Mahrang reflected on the personal tragedies that fueled her activism. She recalled her childhood visits to her father at Hudda Jail, where she would bring him Eid cards—an experience that deeply influenced her commitment to helping families search for their missing relatives.
Mahrang emphasized that the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) has consistently chosen a path of peaceful political struggle to challenge enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. She noted that members of her organization have faced a barrage of intimidation, criminal cases, and disappearances, but asserted that these pressures have not shaken her convictions.
"My greatest concern has never been simply when I will walk out of this prison. It is when families across Balochistan will no longer have to search for their disappeared loved ones, when young people will be able to express their political beliefs without fear, and when the demand for justice will no longer be treated as a crime," Mahrang wrote.
Call for International Solidarity
Timing the appeal ahead of the International Day of Political Prisoners on October 30, the Human Rights Foundation expressed solidarity with Mahrang and all those imprisoned for their political beliefs. HRF urged the international community to intervene and speak out in defense of fundamental human rights and freedom of expression.
Mahrang concluded her reflections with a defiant message on the nature of freedom, stating that prisons can confine individuals, but they cannot permanently suppress the human desire for dignity and justice, maintaining that fear cannot serve as the permanent foundation of any society.