The Baloch National Movement (BNM) organized a series of protests and photo exhibitions across several Dutch cities to raise awareness about the ongoing human rights crisis in Balochistan. These events aimed to draw international attention to enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and state-sponsored violence affecting the Baloch population.
Demonstrations were held in key public spaces, including Utrecht Central on 3 May, Arnhem on 10 May, and Maastricht on 11 May. Activists distributed informational pamphlets, displayed images of the disappeared, and shared firsthand accounts of state repression to engage both the public and international observers.
The exhibits featured photographs documenting human rights abuses in various regions of Balochistan, highlighting the suffering of families of the forcibly disappeared and illustrating the broader political and humanitarian context. The images also underscored Balochistan’s historical struggle, the exploitation of its natural resources, and its geopolitical importance.
The protest was addressed by several prominent members of the BNM Netherlands Chapter, including President Mohim Abdul Rahim, Wahid Baloch, Dr. Latif Baloch, Basit Zaheer, and Brahag Baloch. Speakers emphasized that the campaign is a symbolic act of resistance meant to awaken global conscience. They condemned the Pakistani state’s systematic targeting of Baloch activists and civilians, noting that over the past month alone, more than 40 individuals who were forcibly disappeared have been killed in staged encounters, while hundreds remain forcibly missing.
Speakers also drew attention to the dire conditions faced by leaders of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee—Dr. Mahrang Baloch, Beebow, Gul Zadi, Shah Ji, and Bibgar Baloch—who are being subjected to severe torture in Hudha Jail. BNM called on the United Nations and international human rights organizations to take urgent and meaningful action.
At the conclusion of the events, protestors demanded immediate steps by the international community to end enforced disappearances, hold perpetrators accountable, and ensure justice and the restoration of fundamental rights for the people of Balochistan.
