23 Human Rights Organisations Demand Immediate Release of Dr. Mehrang Baloch

BW News Monitoring Desk: In a powerful display of solidarity, 23 civil society and human rights organisations have issued a joint statement condemning the arrest and inhumane treatment of Dr. Mehrang Baloch, a prominent physician and human rights activist from Balochistan.

The statement, released by the Baloch Activists Campaign, calls for her immediate and unconditional release from Pakistani custody.

Dr. Mehrang Baloch was arrested on March 22, 2025, by Pakistani security forces while leading a peaceful protest in Quetta. A well-known advocate against enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and systematic human rights abuses in Balochistan, she also serves as the head of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC).

According to the joint statement, Dr. Baloch has been held under deplorable and inhumane conditions in Huda Central Jail, where she reportedly suffered from severe food poisoning on March 28.

Despite her deteriorating condition, the authorities have failed to provide her with appropriate medical care. A single brief examination by a junior doctor has been deemed grossly inadequate by her family, who remain deeply concerned for her safety and well-being.

The 23 organisations condemned the arrest as a blatant violation of fundamental human rights and international legal standards, stating that Dr. Baloch’s detention lacks due process and appears politically motivated. The statement further called on the Government of Pakistan to allow an independent medical team immediate access to assess her health.

The signatories also urged Western governments, the European Union, the European Parliament, and international human rights bodies to break their silence and apply diplomatic and political pressure on Pakistan for Dr. Baloch’s release.

Dr. Mehrang Baloch’s activism has earned her global recognition. She has been named among BBC’s 100 Women, TIME100 Next, and is a nominee for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. Her arrest, say supporters, is symbolic of the growing crackdown on dissent in Balochistan, where journalists, teachers, doctors, students, and political workers have increasingly come under threat.

The joint statement warned of “dangerous and irreversible consequences” if her detention continues and her health remains neglected. It described her case as a representation of Balochistan’s wider struggle against state repression and the silencing of voices demanding justice.

The organisations concluded by calling on civil society, human rights activists, journalists, and all freedom-loving individuals to unite in demanding justice and to amplify the call for Dr. Mehrang Baloch’s release.