The Baloch National Movement (BNM), a “pro-independence” Baloch political organization, held protests in Cologne and Chemnitz, Germany, on December 10, International Human Rights Day, to draw attention to alleged human rights violations in Balochistan.
Participants carried banners and placards during the demonstrations, calling for global intervention to address what they described as “systematic oppression” by the Pakistani state. Speakers condemned “enforced disappearances,” “extrajudicial killings,” and “the suppression of dissent in Balochistan.”
Shar Hassan, president of the BNM Germany Chapter, accused Pakistan of depriving Baloch citizens of their basic rights. “The state is systematically targeting the Baloch people, subjecting them to atrocities and denying them dignity,” he said.
Amjad Murad, finance secretary of BNM Germany, called on the international community to fulfill its commitment to protecting human rights. “It is time to act and ensure justice for the Baloch people,” he added.
Other speakers, including Uzair Baloch and Shay Jami, highlighted issues such as “enforced disappearances,” “extrajudicial killings,” and “resource exploitation” in Balochistan.
Uzair Baloch alleged that Pakistani forces stage encounters to label innocent people as terrorists, while Shay Jami criticized the international community’s silence. “Despite being raised at global forums, the plight of the Baloch remains ignored,” he said.
Bakhtawar Zahid, a female member of the BNM, said that the “atrocities in Balochistan are not isolated incidents but part of a systematic strategy to suppress the Baloch freedom movement.” She emphasized the importance of recognizing the Baloch people’s right to self-determination as a pathway to achieving peace and justice.
Other female speakers, including Shalee Zakir and Hamida Baloch, underscored the far-reaching consequences of these violations if left unaddressed. Shalee Zakir warned of the global implications of ignoring the crisis in Balochistan, while Hamida Baloch highlighted the emotional and psychological trauma endured by the families of the forcibly disappeared. “The pain of waiting for a missing loved one is unimaginable,” she said.