Mahrang Baloch Declares: Advocating for justice is not a crime— Writes from Prison for TIME

In her prison cell at Quetta’s Hudda Jail, renowned Baloch rights activist Dr. Mahrang Baloch authored an article published by TIME magazine on June 10. She accused the Pakistani state of systematically targeting peaceful dissenters through tactics such as imprisonment, smear campaigns, and enforced disappearances. Her words reveal the harsh realities faced by those fighting for Baloch rights under an oppressive regime that silences voices advocating for justice.

Mahrang recounts that she has been incarcerated for over two and a half months in Hudda Prison, the same facility where her father was held nearly two decades ago for his activism. Since her arrest, she reports that Pakistan’s security agencies have tried to break her spirit by offering a deal: remain silent, cease political activity, and be released. However, she refused to capitulate, emphasizing that her activism is rooted in peaceful resistance and that no evidence links her to violence or criminal acts.

Her detention stems from a press conference she gave shortly before her arrest, where she addressed the aftermath of a train hijacking carried out by Baloch separatists. She clarified that her movement, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, condemns violence and distinguishes between armed confrontation and peaceful activism. Yet, the Pakistani state prefers to conflate advocacy for Baloch rights with terrorism, branding anyone speaking out as a threat, often with deadly consequences.

Mahrang highlights the mysterious circumstances surrounding the bodies of those killed during violent episodes, such as the train hijacking. She questions the identity of the “unidentified” bodies brought to the hospital and notes that enforced disappearances are a common practice in Balochistan, where victims are often killed and their bodies discarded without accountability. She demanded DNA testing for the buried bodies, fearing her loved ones might be among the disappeared.

Her activism has already attracted international attention, including her visit to Norway at the invitation of PEN Norway and the World Expression Forum. Upon her return to Pakistan, she faced severe repercussions: charges of sedition, surveillance, and restrictions on her movement, including being placed on the Fourth Schedule, a watchlist reserved for militants. These actions underscore the high cost she bears for advocating peacefully for her people’s rights.

Despite efforts to silence her, Mahrang emphasizes that her movement seeks justice and peace. She speaks out against enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and systematic denial of basic rights to the Baloch people, who are rich in natural resources yet remain impoverished. The profits from projects like Saindak and Reko Diq, as well as the strategic Gwadar port, do not benefit the local population, fueling grievances and resistance.

She questions the state’s narrative, asking why, if Pakistan’s security is so capable, no credible evidence has been presented against her or other activists. Instead, she suggests that her imprisonment is rooted in fear—fear of exposing the truth about state violence and the oppression of Balochistan. Her words reflect her awareness that her detention is part of a broader war of narratives aimed at silencing dissent.

Mahrang’s personal history is intertwined with her activism; her father was disappeared and murdered when she was young, a trauma she vividly recalls. Her childhood was marked by grief and fear, with her growing up amid posters of her father’s tortured, bullet-riddled body. Her story symbolizes the suffering of many children in Balochistan, where state violence has created a landscape of grief and loss.

As she concludes her message, Mahrang asserts that speaking out for justice is not a crime, raising her voice against state violence is not treason. Demanding basic rights and exposing systemic abuses are acts of humanity, she insists. Despite the dangers she faces, she remains hopeful, believing that one day, this struggle for justice and dignity will succeed, and truth will emerge from the darkness imposed by oppressive forces.