HANOVER: When a Baloch activist flees oppression and fear, he carries hopes of a better life, not only for himself, but also for his family, his countrypeople, and the society where he begins anew. Every year, hundreds of Baloch activists leave Pakistan, escaping the atrocities committed by state forces, and seek refuge in different parts of the world, including Germany.
Arriving in a foreign land, many have no idea what awaits them. Germany, a country known for peace and freedom, offers safety, yet presents a society entirely different from the one they have known. Away from families, childhood friends, morning tea, casual conversations, and the familiar rhythms of home, their life begins in isolation. Language barriers make communication difficult, cultural norms feel alien, and the simple joys of daily life, sunny days, and pleasant evenings, are replaced by solitude.
Years are spent trying to integrate, learning the language, building connections, and adapting to a new society. Just as they begin to find their footing, some are struck by the heartbreaking news of the passing of fellow exiles. Abdul Malik Baloch was one such activist.
According to reports, Malik Baloch, a member of the Free Balochistan Movement (FBM)’s German chapter, passed away after battling cancer for nearly two years. He had been receiving treatment at a hospital in Hanover, Germany. Malik Baloch hailed from the Mand area of Pakistani-occupied Balochistan. Frustrated by the increasing oppression and tyranny of the Pakistani occupying forces, he had fled to Germany around 2015, seeking safety and a new life.
A similar tragedy occurred nearly two years ago when Aamir Baloch, an activist from Kech, Balochistan, passed away under similar circumstances. Friends and visitors recall him saying that, despite its freedoms, Germany had offered him little compared to the isolation he experienced there, which was later followed by a fatal illness.
Sometimes, these deaths are natural, but other times they remain shrouded in mystery. Exiled activists like Karima Baloch, who died under mysterious circumstances in Canada, and Sajid Hussain, whose death also raised many questions, remind the community that exile does not guarantee safety. Even far from the reach of the Pakistani state, activists remain vulnerable, physically, emotionally, and psychologically.
Thousands of Baloch have been forced to leave their homeland due to organized oppression, collective punishments, and human rights violations by Pakistani authorities, and have settled abroad, particularly in Europe.
Malik Baloch’s body will be buried in Germany in the presence of friends and party activists after completing legal procedures in the coming days. The exact time and location of the funeral have not yet been determined.
Malik Baloch’s journey, like that of Aamir Baloch, Karima Baloch, and Sajid Hussain, reflects the dual reality faced by Baloch activists in exile: safety comes at the cost of home, routine, and community, and the struggle for survival is intertwined with solitude, loss, and longing. Their lives remind us that exile is not only a geographic displacement but also an emotional and human challenge, one that activists endure while continuing to carry the weight of their homeland on their shoulders.
