10/12/2021
JUSTICE FOR KARIMA BALOCH
DEMONSTRATION IN REMEBERANCE OF THE FEMINIST AND BALOCH LIBERATION ACTIVIST
Saturday 18th December 2021 // 3 PM // Wilhelmsplatz Göttingen
The ongoing struggle for emancipation of Balochistan claims yet another victim! Balochistan has tried to gain independence from the oppressive Pakistani state for many years. However, unlike Kurdistan, Balochistan - the land of the baloch people - is situated between the Iraninan plateau and the Sub-continent. The historical land was divided by the British in the 1800s in to three parts. After the British left the Sub-continent, Balochistan gained its independence and then the newly-born state of Pakistan occupied Balochistan illegaly and thereby starting a war of independence for the Baloch people. Until now this struggle needs attention and support! Its activists (and their families and friends) are threatened to be killed by Pakistani intelligence all over the world.
Often, these death threats turn to reality, usually in a quite “typical” chronology: a person is disappearing – a dead body is found - circumstances of death remain unresolved. Also the recent case followed this scheme: Karima Baloch was found dead in Toronto, Canada, on December 21st, 2020.
Karima Baloch was a wo*men rights advocate and a Balochistan liberation activist . She was a towering figure in the Independence movement of Balochistan, the land of the indigeneous Baloch people. Last year on 21 December, after telling her husband she is going for a walk, Karima disappeared. A day later her body was found dumped in Lake Ontario, Canada.
After enduring a lifetime of persecution and suffering, Karima fled Pakistan to claim asylum in Canada in 2015. In 2016 she was named in the BBC's list of the top 100 inspirational and influential women. But also in Canada she faced harassment by the powerful lobby of Pakistani nationalists in the Canadian government. She was put under investigation for terrorism by the Canadian government and her asylum process was postponed to limit her from travelling for her activism. Eventually, Canadian authorities had no other choice but to grant her asylum.
Through her speeches, activism, and her courage, she has empowered and inspired thousands of people, especially wo*men. Karima's death was the second case last year that a Baloch activist in exile was found dead under mysterious circumstances. Sajid Hussain, another important voice of the Balochistan resistance and editor of Balochistan Times was living in Sweden. In April 2020, he suddenly disappeared and was found dead in a river in Uppsala, Sweden. The first days after his dissappearence, Swedish police also ignored his case. Later on, when his body was found, the police not only closed his case but also declared it a non-criminal death as his body was decomposed too much to secure any evidence. The likelihood that Pakistani intelligence agencies were behind both cases is high.
In rememberance of Karima, we also want to remember and draw attention to the murderous repression of political activists globally as well as the inaction and ignorance to political assasinations, femicides, struggles against colonialism and oppression and for emancipation, visibility and international solidarity. Karima has mobilised thousands of people and her murder shows many facets of global repression.
No forgiving. No forgetting. Karima lives on in the resistance and in our hearts! We demand justice and a full investigation into the murder of Karima Baloch!
Let’s bring international solidarity into practice and fight together.
Join us and bring your friends. Also bring candles and flowers.
