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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE International Human Rights Foundation (IHRF) Condemns Shameful Life Sentence for Dr. Mahrang Baloch and Sibghatullah Shah by Pakistani Authorities The Hague, The Netherlands – June 23, 2026 – The International Human Rights Foundation (IHRF) expresses its strongest condemnation regarding the reprehensible life sentence handed down by a Pakistani Anti-Terrorism Court to prominent human rights defender Dr. Mahrang Baloch and her colleague, Sibghatullah Shah . This verdict is a blatant miscarriage of justice and a devastating blow to the rule of law in Pakistan. Dr. Baloch, a leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), has been a fearless and peaceful voice for the Baloch people, courageously campaigning against enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and state repression in Balochistan . Her only crime is her dedication to exposing grave human rights violations . The IHRF is deeply alarmed by the egregious procedural irregularities and denial of due process that characterized this “secret trial” . A proceeding that denies the accused the right to effectively cross-examine witnesses or present a proper defense, held in a “faceless court” on jail premises, cannot be considered a legitimate judicial process . This is not justice; it is a politically motivated weaponization of the judicial system to silence dissent and intimidate human rights defenders . We echo the calls of Amnesty International and other international bodies, who have condemned this verdict as an affront to the right to a fair trial . The state’s cynical misuse of anti-terrorism laws to prosecute peaceful activism represents a dangerous escalation in the crackdown on fundamental freedoms in Pakistan . The IHRF urges the Government of Pakistan to immediately and unconditionally release Dr. Mahrang Baloch and Sibghatullah Shah, and to ensure their safety and well-being. We call upon the international community, including the United Nations Human Rights Council, to: 1. Denounce this injustice and place Pakistan under close scrutiny for its escalating human rights violations. 2. Demand transparency in all legal proceedings against human rights defenders and a full investigation into the circumstances of this case. 3. Pressure Pakistani authorities to cease the persecution of peaceful activists and uphold their international obligations regarding due process and fundamental rights. The IHRF stands in solidarity with Dr. Mahrang Baloch, Sibghatullah Shah, and all peaceful activists in Pakistan who risk their lives for justice and human dignity.