A Baloch asylum seeker, Atif Ali, faces possible deportation from Germany, sparking concerns from the Baloch National Movement (BNM) and the wider Baloch community.
In response to this development, the BNM has formally reached out to the German authorities, emphasizing the potential risks Mr. Ali may encounter if he’s deported to Pakistan.
Hammal Haider, the Foreign Secretary of BNM, urgently appealed to Germany’s ‘Federal Office for Migration and Refugees’, emphasizing the immediate threats Mr. Ali could face upon his return, possibly even abduction by Pakistani authorities.
Drawing attention to this issue, Dr. Naseem Baloch, the Chairman of BNM, utilized the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) to shed light on the challenges faced by the Baloch people in Pakistan. He emphasized that many Baloch individuals seek asylum due to state-led adversities they endure. He also appealed to the United Nations refugee agency and the Human Rights Commission for intervention.
There are growing concerns that if Atif Ali, known for his advocacy for the rights of the Baloch people, is sent back, he could face dire consequences. These fears are based on reported widespread human rights violations against the Baloch people by Pakistani authorities.
The BNM has urged for a comprehensive review of Mr. Ali’s case and calls for international standards on human rights to be upheld. Moreover, the Baloch community in Germany has organized a protest in front of the Ministry of Interior and launched a signature campaign in partnership with other human rights organizations to express their opposition to Mr. Ali’s potential deportation.
Germany’s ‘Federal Office for Migration and Refugees’ has yet to issue a statement on this matter.