Members of the European Parliament have voiced their deep concerns regarding the detention of several prominent Baloch human rights activists in Pakistan and urged the European Union to take immediate action.
A letter sent to the EU’s High Representative, Kaja Kallas, was signed by environmentalist Carola Rackete along with MEPs Michael McNamara, Rima Hassan, and Li Andersson. The letter highlighted the recent arrests and the reported harassment of members of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), including Dr. Mahrang Baloch, Bebarg Zehri, and Sammi Deen Baloch.
The letter states: “We are gravely concerned about the unlawful detention and intimidation of Baloch human rights defenders in Pakistan. These individuals are being persecuted solely for their peaceful efforts to address human rights violations in Balochistan.”
Dr. Mahrang Baloch, a leading figure in the BYC and an advocate for human rights, was taken into custody on March 22 during a peaceful protest in Quetta. She is currently being held at Hudda District Jail.
The letter also mentioned the detention of Sammi Deen Baloch, who has been incarcerated at Karachi Central Jail.
“These unlawful detentions reflect a systematic assault on the rights of the Baloch people,” the MEPs expressed in the letter.
The signatories urged both the European Commission and the international community to intervene with Pakistani authorities to ensure the immediate release of the detained activists and to protect the fundamental human rights in Balochistan.
