Who Is Dr. Mahrang Baloch? The Face of Balochistan's Rights Movement
Who is Dr. Mahrang Baloch, and why has her case drawn global attention?
A physician-turned-human rights activist, Dr. Mahrang Baloch has emerged as one of the most prominent voices highlighting enforced disappearances and alleged human rights violations in Pakistan's Balochistan province. As the founder of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), she has led campaigns demanding justice for families of missing persons.
Pakistani authorities accuse her of terrorism-related offences, including violating restrictions under the Anti-Terrorism Act and allegedly inciting violence during protests in Gwadar in 2024. Her supporters reject the charges, describing them as an attempt to silence peaceful dissent.
In June, an anti-terrorism court sentenced Dr. Mahrang Baloch to life imprisonment, a verdict that is currently under appeal.
