Naseem Baloch, Chairman of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), expressed distress over the abduction, forced conversion, and marriage of Hindu and Christian girls in Pakistan. He emphasized that these actions violate the victims’ identity, dignity, freedom of conscience, family life, and fundamental human rights. Speaking at an event during the United Nations Human Rights Council session in Geneva, Naseem urged the global community to address the persecution faced by religious minorities and the Baloch people in Pakistan.
Forced conversions, according to Naseem, are not merely personal matters but severe violations that target the identity and rights of minority women and underage girls. He highlighted cases where Hindu and Christian girls are abducted, converted, and married off in Pakistan, with their families often unable to seek justice due to poverty, fear, or powerlessness. Naseem emphasized the urgent need for international attention to combat the ongoing persecution of minorities in various provinces of Pakistan.
Naseem drew attention to the plight of minorities in different regions of Pakistan, citing instances of violence against Hindu girls in Sindh and Christian communities in Punjab. He pointed out a pattern of religious hatred, state failure, and impunity that perpetuates such atrocities. Additionally, Naseem highlighted the challenges faced by women in Balochistan, attributing their oppression to factors like occupation, militarization, enforced disappearances, and state control over society.
The Chairman condemned the imprisonment of Baloch activists like Mahrang Baloch, labeling it an effort to silence those who speak out against state injustices. He emphasized that such actions aim to suppress voices demanding accountability for enforced disappearances and human rights violations. Naseem called on the international community to recognize these abuses as part of a broader crisis in Pakistan, urging concerted efforts to protect the vulnerable and combat systemic violence.
