Greta Thunberg, a globally renowned climate activist, has drawn attention to the longstanding oppression of the Baloch people in Pakistan, a situation she says has persisted for over seven decades. In a recent Instagram post to her 14.5 million followers, Thunberg shared a video featuring Dr. MahRang Baloch, highlighting the sustained injustices faced by the Baloch people.
In her post, Thunberg described various forms of state oppression, including the displacement of indigenous communities, extrajudicial killings, and enforced disappearances of civilians, impacting a wide range of individuals from teachers, doctors, students and children to the elderly.
The post also shed light on the current protests led by Baloch women, who have undertaken a 56-day march from Turbat to Islamabad. The ongoing sit-in outside the Islamabad press club represents their demand for justice and the release of family members who have disappeared.
Thunberg further connected the plight in Balochistan with broader themes of climate justice and anti-colonialism. She stressed that the fight against environmental injustice is intricately linked with resisting oppression and advocating for the rights of indigenous communities. Thunberg underscored the historical exploitation of indigenous lands for profit under colonialism.
In addition, Thunberg expressed her support for the Baloch cause by sharing an online petition against ‘Baloch genocide.’ She called on her global audience to support the movement by signing and sharing the petition.
Dr. MahRang Baloch, responding to Thunberg’s post, expressed her gratitude for the international attention brought to the human rights issues in Balochistan. She highlighted the importance of global solidarity in their ongoing struggle.