Baloch rights activist says Baloch youth turn against state due to repression, not poetry

A Baloch rights activist has responded to remarks made by the chief minister of Balochistan, who claimed that poetry was being used to radicalize young people in the region. The activist argued that instead of blaming cultural expressions like poetry, the government should reflect on its own policies and the repression that has fueled resentment among Baloch youth.

The chief minister made his statement during a speech to the Balochistan Assembly, asserting that Balochi poetry was being exploited to radicalize youth and attract them to armed groups. He suggested that such cultural expressions posed a threat to stability and needed to be monitored or controlled.

In response, Sammi De Baloch, a leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), sharply criticized the government’s stance. She sarcastically remarked that if poetry was truly responsible for radicalization, then institutions promoting the Balochi language should be subjected to strict scrutiny, and their books confiscated, as they encourage young minds to think critically.

Ms. Baloch emphasized that books and literature are essential for education and development, and that suppressing them would only hinder youth from questioning the state. She pointed out that banning libraries and removing Baloch students from colleges and universities would be counterproductive, as education fosters critical thinking, which is perceived as dangerous by authorities.

She further stated that voices of dissent were being silenced through repression, with restrictions on movement, employment, and internet access aimed at preventing people from exposing or discussing state repression. She highlighted that such measures were part of a broader strategy to stifle any form of resistance or criticism.

Ms. Baloch condemned the practice of enforced disappearances, where many Baloch individuals are allegedly taken away for years without explanation. She accused the state of denying these disappearances through official narratives, leaving families without answers and fueling distrust among the Baloch population.

She described the government’s approach as one of “ban, restrict, disappear and kill,” criticizing these policies for intensifying feelings of alienation and resentment. She urged the government to reflect on the policies that have caused widespread discontent and loss of trust among the Baloch people.

Referring to recent incidents in the region, Sammi Deen mentioned reports from Panjgur, where 22 young men are alleged to have been killed in extrajudicial executions within just twenty days. She stressed that Baloch youth were not turning against the state because of poetry, but due to years of repression, bloodshed, and policies aimed at silencing dissent. She concluded that meaningful change in Balochistan could only occur if the situation on the ground were to improve.