Open letter to Human Rights Organizations and UNESCO
22nd January 2025
Human Rights Organizations and UNESCO
Subject
Disrupting book stall in Gwadar and illegally detaining Baloch students along with books by security forces is crime against the humanity and rights of citizens
Dear,
I am writing to you to express a deep concerning issue about the restriction of practicing educational and literacy activity in Balochistan.
In a troubling incident that occurred on 21st January 2025 has raised serious concerns about the state of free speech and human rights in Balochistan, Gwadar Police along law enforcement officers descended upon a bookstall from the campaign of Balochistan Kitab Karwan by Baloch Students Action Committee (BSAC), detained four Baloch students, and confiscated the collection of books. Later they were jailed and charged with bogus FIR. This alarming event shows that the promotion of books reading culture is not being tolerated in Balochistan but rather than being suppressed by force which is an assault on intellectual freedom and a blatant violation of the fundamental rights of citizens in Balochistan.
Balochistan Kitab Karwan
The Balochistan Kitab Karwan is a book fair campaign by BSAC, where book stalls are hosted in various cities and educational institution of the country. On the welcome of the New Year, the BSAC announced a country wise book fairs campaign in which book stall are being hosted in various cities and towns to promote literacy in Balochistan. But unfortunately the book stalls were disrupted by districts administration and law enforcement agencies where the students were harassed and threatened to end the event, these cases were occurred in Dera Murad Jamali, Jhal Magsi, Sibbi, Jafferabad, Osta Mohammd, Barkhan, Taunsa, Yaro Khosa, Hub Chowki and Gwadar where police raided the stall and forced the student to end the stall without any legitimate reason and legal notice. In some places organizers were detained like in Gwadar where four Baloch students along with books were detained and shifted to prison.
Struggle for Knowledge and literacy in Balochistan
The Balochistan is a black hole for human rights where the people have been suffering worst violations for decades, but now books and reading culture is being repressed by the state which is very concerning. We, the BSAC (Baloch Students Action Committee) are students’ organization, struggling for knowledge and literacy in Balochistan but unfortunately we are facing restriction and various threat by the state’s security forces and its administration. But besides these harsh restrictions we are struggling to promote literacy and we will not step back by our struggle in promoting education and literacy in Balochistan.
Violation of Basic Human Rights and Intellectual Growth in Balochistan
The confiscation of books and charging students with bogus FIR are not only condemnable but against the basic human rights which is the most worrying. Books have long been tools of education, enlightenment, and social change. The act of restricting access to literature, especially works that challenge the status quo, is not only an attack on the students involved but also on the wider national that relies on diverse ideas to foster intellectual growth in the society.
The most glaring concern raised by this raid is the infringement of basic human rights. Freedom of expression is a fundamental pillar of any democratic society, enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Pakistani Constitution. The act of detaining students and confiscating books for the mere act of reading or sharing ideas represents a clear violation of these rights. Under Pakistani law, the authorities are required to follow due process before conducting searches or arrests. Yet, in this case, no clear justification has been provided for the actions taken by the police.
Moreover, the detention of the students, without evidence of any unlawful activity, suggests a broader attempt to suppress dissent and discourage independent thought. In a society where critical thinking is often met with suppressions, this crackdown only reinforces the idea that the authorities view intellectual engagement as a threat in Balochistan. This crackdown follows a worrying trend in Pakistan, where books and other forms of expression that deal with issues such as politics, science and art, history, and human rights are increasingly targeted.
Call for Accountability
The Gwadar book stall raid is a reminder of the challenges faced by individuals who dare to question the official narrative. It is also a wake-up call for the government and law enforcement agencies to recognize the importance of protecting free expression, especially in a country where public discourse is already heavily restricted.
The UNESCO and Human rights organizations including Amnesty International and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), must call for a full investigation into the incident, urging the authorities withdraw the bogus FIR and immediately stop harassing Baloch students in hosting book fairs in Balochistan to promote literacy in the society. The public must demand greater accountability from the state, especially when it comes to safeguarding civil liberties and constitutional rights.
I believe that education and promoting literacy is the best way to address the various issues of the society and I urge you to take action on this concerning issue.
Sincerely:
Uzair Baloch (Spokesperson for Baloch Students Action Committee)
Contact: bsacorg@gmail.com
