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Baloch Leader Hyrbair Marri and Faiz Baloch Arrested in London
Dec. 4, 2007, Update 5pm EST:
Baloch Society of North America just learned that Shaeed Balaach Marri's brother Mir Hyrbair Marri has been arrested in London after police raided
his house and cordoned off the area. According to the letter sent by Noordin Mengal, Herbiyar Marri, 39 was detained by British authorities in an
operation named Operation Super Sweep/Swift from his residence in Ealing, London at around 5am GMT. The authorities made a dawn raid with
dozens of vehicles. They even confiscated phones from the children. Since his apprehension, the authorities have taken over his property, evacuated
his family from the property, and the entire area has been cordoned off. According to our information, he has been transferred to Paddington Green
police Station for interogation.
The home of Noordin Mengal, also located in Ealing, has also been cordoned off, but no arrests have been made because no one is available.
Noordin states "I believe such acts by the west will only further isolate the Baluch and could lead to the loss of a potentially natural ally against
common adverseries."
A LETTER FROM MEHRAN BALUCH,
Dear All,
I would like to bring to your attention a very serious and potentially dangerous situation which has arisen today. Baluch Patriot Herbiyar Marri has
been arrested by British authorities, his house and neigbourhood in London has been cordoned off. The property is being searched and his family
has been evacuated. This incident has been prompted by the Pakistani authorities to pressurise and curb Baluch human rights workers. We, the
Baluch appeal to the British authorities not to become a party in the process of unjustifiable persecution and victimization of the secular Baluch
diaspora. We urge all Baluch and others to persuade the British government and other democratic foreign countries to take a stand against the
injustice and victimization of the Baluch rather than taking instructions from the corrupt Punjabi army, ISI and MI led by Musharraf. The Musharraf-
regime has been lobbying and persuading the British government to extradite Baluch human rights workers in order to eliminate their opposition.
The British must not fall into this trap by obliging Pakistan and overiding its democratic norms. It is pertinent to mention that Herbiyar's brother,
Balach Marri was targeted and killed by Pakistani armed forces in Baluchistan less than a fortnight ago. This is no co-incidence that Herbiyar Marri
has been picked up by British agencies at a time when the Baluch nation is still in a state of mourning. We urge, appeal and request the British
Government not to hand over Herbiyar Marri to Pakistan because Musharraf's regime had repeatedly made it very clear of what they want to do with
Nawab Akbar Bugti, Herbiyar, Balach and other Baluchs who have taken a stand for the rights of Baluch people.
Thank you
Yours Sincerely,
Mehran Baluch
Letter to the British Ambassador in Geneva from Interfaith International
INTERFAITH INTERNATIONAL
c.p. 32, 1246 Corsier, Geneva, Switzerland
Tel: 0041 22 751 23 45; Fax 0041 22 751 23 48
e-mail:charlesgraves@vtx.ch;web-site: www.interfaithonline.org
Special consultative status with United Nations ECOSOC
3 December 2007
H.E. Nicholas Thorne
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom
and Northern Ireland to the United Nations Geneva
Fax : 022 918 23 33
Your Excellency,
Our organisation is most seriously concerned about the fate of Mr. Herbiyar Marri brother of our active member Mehran Baluch. Mr. Herbiyar Marri (
who has been under threat of extradition from the United Kingdom to Pakistan), was arrested today at his London home by British authorities and
his house has been cordoned off. His property has been searched and his family evacuated. We understand that Mr. Herbiyar Marri is a Pakistan
national and not a British subject
This action has no doubt been provoked by the Pakistan government which has been actively harassing members of Mr. Marri’s family and recently
was no doubt responsable for the assassination of Mr. Herbiyar Marri’s older brother Balach Marri on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border area a
fortnight ago.
Earlier this year the Pakistan representatives in Geneva threatened our organisation that if we allowed Mr. Mehran Baluch (brother of Mr. Herbiyar
Marri) to continue speaking of the rights of the Baluch people, Pakistan would take steps to expel our organisation from consultative status in
ECOSOC. At that time I told the Pakistani auhorities that I would take a moratorium on Mr. Baluch speaking (in the name of our organisation) before
the United Nations Human Rights Council for one year (to June 2008). I have kept my promise. But I made a formal complaint to the High
Commissioner on Human Rights that the proof of Mr. Mehran Baluch’s criminal record provided me by the Pakistani authorities was an INTERPOL
paper which apparently had nothing to do with Mr. Mehran Baluch. Ms. Azma Jihangir helped me draft the letter to the High Commissioner.
Also, Pakistan is requesting the extradition of this same our member Mr. Mehran Baluch, who is a U.K. citizen and has been involved in no military or
other criminal activity vis à vis Pakistan. Your authorities, Mr. Ambassador, have been up to now seemingly protecting our human rights activist Mr.
Mehran Baluch and we are grateful for all the help which can be provided to him. The Marri family, as a leading Baluch family, has been under
harassment for some time and such harassment seems to be increasing.
We ask Your Excellency to intervene as you believe possible to protect human rights activists such as members of the Marri-Baluch leading Pakistan
family. This family holds the keys to the future of a democratic Pakistan. If the U.K. authorities bend to the request of Pakistan for the extradition of
either Mr. Herbyar Marri or Mr. Mehran Baluch, this would seem to be favouring an un-democratic Pakistan.
We ask for your understanding and action to protect Baluch human rights workers and their legitimate defence of the rights of Baluch people within
Pakistan.
With highest regards to Your Excellency,
Yours sincerely,
Charles Graves, D. Theol. Secretary General
An earlier letter from Noordin Mengal says:
Arrest of Exiled Baloch Patriot by British Authorities
Exiled Baluch Patriot Herbiyar Marri has been arrested by British authorities, his house and the entire neigbourhood in London has been cordoned
off. The property is being searched and his family has been evacuated. This incident has been prompted by the Pakistani authorities to pressurise
and curb Baluch human rights workers. We, the Baluch appeal to the British authorities not to become a party in the process of unjustifiable
persecution and victimization of the secular Baluch diaspora.
We urge all Baluch and others to persuade the British government and other democratic foreign countries to take a stand against the injustice and
victimization of the Baluch rather than obliging the corrupt Pakistani army, ISI and MI.
The Musharraf-regime has been lobbying and persuading the British government to extradite Baluch human rights workers in order to eliminate their
opposition. The British must not fall into this trap by obliging Pakistan and overiding its democratic norms.
It is pertinent to mention that Herbiyar's brother, Balach Marri was targeted and killed by Pakistani armed forces in Baluchistan less than a fortnight
ago. This is no co-incidence that Herbiyar Marri has been picked up by British agencies at a time when the Baluch nation is still in a state of
mourning. We urge, appeal and request the British Government not to hand over Herbiyar Marri to Pakistan because Musharraf's regime had
repeatedly made it very clear of what they want to do with Nawab Akbar Bugti, Herbiyar, Balach and other Baluchs who have taken a sincere stand for
the rights of Baluch people.
BSO-NA strongly condemn Nawabzada Hyrbair Marri's arrest and ask the British authorities to release the Baloch leader immediately. BSO-Na
also ask all the Baloch community in north America and Europe to send e-mail and Fax to British authorities to raise their concerns and ask his
unconditional release
To write British Embassy in Washington Dc, please go to the following links.
Dec. 4, 2007, Update 5pm EST:
Baloch Society of North America just learned that Shaeed Balaach Marri's brother Mir Hyrbair Marri has been arrested in London after police raided
his house and cordoned off the area. According to the letter sent by Noordin Mengal, Herbiyar Marri, 39 was detained by British authorities in an
operation named Operation Super Sweep/Swift from his residence in Ealing, London at around 5am GMT. The authorities made a dawn raid with
dozens of vehicles. They even confiscated phones from the children. Since his apprehension, the authorities have taken over his property, evacuated
his family from the property, and the entire area has been cordoned off. According to our information, he has been transferred to Paddington Green
police Station for interogation.
The home of Noordin Mengal, also located in Ealing, has also been cordoned off, but no arrests have been made because no one is available.
Noordin states "I believe such acts by the west will only further isolate the Baluch and could lead to the loss of a potentially natural ally against
common adverseries."
A LETTER FROM MEHRAN BALUCH,
Dear All,
I would like to bring to your attention a very serious and potentially dangerous situation which has arisen today. Baluch Patriot Herbiyar Marri has
been arrested by British authorities, his house and neigbourhood in London has been cordoned off. The property is being searched and his family
has been evacuated. This incident has been prompted by the Pakistani authorities to pressurise and curb Baluch human rights workers. We, the
Baluch appeal to the British authorities not to become a party in the process of unjustifiable persecution and victimization of the secular Baluch
diaspora. We urge all Baluch and others to persuade the British government and other democratic foreign countries to take a stand against the
injustice and victimization of the Baluch rather than taking instructions from the corrupt Punjabi army, ISI and MI led by Musharraf. The Musharraf-
regime has been lobbying and persuading the British government to extradite Baluch human rights workers in order to eliminate their opposition.
The British must not fall into this trap by obliging Pakistan and overiding its democratic norms. It is pertinent to mention that Herbiyar's brother,
Balach Marri was targeted and killed by Pakistani armed forces in Baluchistan less than a fortnight ago. This is no co-incidence that Herbiyar Marri
has been picked up by British agencies at a time when the Baluch nation is still in a state of mourning. We urge, appeal and request the British
Government not to hand over Herbiyar Marri to Pakistan because Musharraf's regime had repeatedly made it very clear of what they want to do with
Nawab Akbar Bugti, Herbiyar, Balach and other Baluchs who have taken a stand for the rights of Baluch people.
Thank you
Yours Sincerely,
Mehran Baluch
Letter to the British Ambassador in Geneva from Interfaith International
INTERFAITH INTERNATIONAL
c.p. 32, 1246 Corsier, Geneva, Switzerland
Tel: 0041 22 751 23 45; Fax 0041 22 751 23 48
e-mail:charlesgraves@vtx.ch;web-site: www.interfaithonline.org
Special consultative status with United Nations ECOSOC
3 December 2007
H.E. Nicholas Thorne
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom
and Northern Ireland to the United Nations Geneva
Fax : 022 918 23 33
Your Excellency,
Our organisation is most seriously concerned about the fate of Mr. Herbiyar Marri brother of our active member Mehran Baluch. Mr. Herbiyar Marri (
who has been under threat of extradition from the United Kingdom to Pakistan), was arrested today at his London home by British authorities and
his house has been cordoned off. His property has been searched and his family evacuated. We understand that Mr. Herbiyar Marri is a Pakistan
national and not a British subject
This action has no doubt been provoked by the Pakistan government which has been actively harassing members of Mr. Marri’s family and recently
was no doubt responsable for the assassination of Mr. Herbiyar Marri’s older brother Balach Marri on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border area a
fortnight ago.
Earlier this year the Pakistan representatives in Geneva threatened our organisation that if we allowed Mr. Mehran Baluch (brother of Mr. Herbiyar
Marri) to continue speaking of the rights of the Baluch people, Pakistan would take steps to expel our organisation from consultative status in
ECOSOC. At that time I told the Pakistani auhorities that I would take a moratorium on Mr. Baluch speaking (in the name of our organisation) before
the United Nations Human Rights Council for one year (to June 2008). I have kept my promise. But I made a formal complaint to the High
Commissioner on Human Rights that the proof of Mr. Mehran Baluch’s criminal record provided me by the Pakistani authorities was an INTERPOL
paper which apparently had nothing to do with Mr. Mehran Baluch. Ms. Azma Jihangir helped me draft the letter to the High Commissioner.
Also, Pakistan is requesting the extradition of this same our member Mr. Mehran Baluch, who is a U.K. citizen and has been involved in no military or
other criminal activity vis à vis Pakistan. Your authorities, Mr. Ambassador, have been up to now seemingly protecting our human rights activist Mr.
Mehran Baluch and we are grateful for all the help which can be provided to him. The Marri family, as a leading Baluch family, has been under
harassment for some time and such harassment seems to be increasing.
We ask Your Excellency to intervene as you believe possible to protect human rights activists such as members of the Marri-Baluch leading Pakistan
family. This family holds the keys to the future of a democratic Pakistan. If the U.K. authorities bend to the request of Pakistan for the extradition of
either Mr. Herbyar Marri or Mr. Mehran Baluch, this would seem to be favouring an un-democratic Pakistan.
We ask for your understanding and action to protect Baluch human rights workers and their legitimate defence of the rights of Baluch people within
Pakistan.
With highest regards to Your Excellency,
Yours sincerely,
Charles Graves, D. Theol. Secretary General
An earlier letter from Noordin Mengal says:
Arrest of Exiled Baloch Patriot by British Authorities
Exiled Baluch Patriot Herbiyar Marri has been arrested by British authorities, his house and the entire neigbourhood in London has been cordoned
off. The property is being searched and his family has been evacuated. This incident has been prompted by the Pakistani authorities to pressurise
and curb Baluch human rights workers. We, the Baluch appeal to the British authorities not to become a party in the process of unjustifiable
persecution and victimization of the secular Baluch diaspora.
We urge all Baluch and others to persuade the British government and other democratic foreign countries to take a stand against the injustice and
victimization of the Baluch rather than obliging the corrupt Pakistani army, ISI and MI.
The Musharraf-regime has been lobbying and persuading the British government to extradite Baluch human rights workers in order to eliminate their
opposition. The British must not fall into this trap by obliging Pakistan and overiding its democratic norms.
It is pertinent to mention that Herbiyar's brother, Balach Marri was targeted and killed by Pakistani armed forces in Baluchistan less than a fortnight
ago. This is no co-incidence that Herbiyar Marri has been picked up by British agencies at a time when the Baluch nation is still in a state of
mourning. We urge, appeal and request the British Government not to hand over Herbiyar Marri to Pakistan because Musharraf's regime had
repeatedly made it very clear of what they want to do with Nawab Akbar Bugti, Herbiyar, Balach and other Baluchs who have taken a sincere stand for
the rights of Baluch people.
BSO-NA strongly condemn Nawabzada Hyrbair Marri's arrest and ask the British authorities to release the Baloch leader immediately. BSO-Na
also ask all the Baloch community in north America and Europe to send e-mail and Fax to British authorities to raise their concerns and ask his
unconditional release
To write British Embassy in Washington Dc, please go to the following links.
Baloch and Sindhi protest rally in London
LONDON, Dec 16: A large number of Baloch people living here and their sympathyisers staged a two-hour long rally in front of 10 Downing street on
Sunday demanding release of Hyrbyair Marri and Faiz Baloch who they said were not terrorists but human right activists engaged in defending the
rights of the oppressed people of Balochistan.The rally was jointly organised by the Balochistan Action Committee (UK), the World Sindhi Congress,
the Sindhi Baloch Forum and the Balochistan Rights Movement.Later the group presented a memorandum to the British Prime Minister which was
received by one of the officials at 10 Downing.The memorandum called upon the British PM not to cave in to the demands of Pakistan government to
extradite the two arrested Baloch leader. It also asked the PM to press Pakistan to immediately cease its military operation against Baloch nation and
release Sindhi and Baloch human rights activists, immediately stop military and economic aid to Musharraf government and initiate and organise
international observers to visit the affected areas in Balochistan to establish the facts about atrocities committed by Pakistan Army in the province.
Ambreen Hisbani, coordinator of Sindhi Baloch Forum, Mehran Baloch, the Baloch representative to the UN Human Rights Council, Haleem Bhatti,
Chairman of World Sindhi Congress, Dr Safdar Sarki of the same organisation, Samad Baloch of Baloch Action Committee, and human rights activist
Peter Tatchell spoke at the rally. Most of the speakers roundly condemned the Musharraf government for launching military campaign against the
people of Balochistan. Some even talked of secession.A number of speakers noting the geo-strategic location of their province said a fight was going
on there among various global and regional actors to get their foothold as a result of which they added the people of the province are suffering greatly.
They specifically criticised Islamabad and Tehran in this regard saying both are treating their respective Balochistans as their colonies.
Related Links:
LONDON, Dec 16: A large number of Baloch people living here and their sympathyisers staged a two-hour long rally in front of 10 Downing street on
Sunday demanding release of Hyrbyair Marri and Faiz Baloch who they said were not terrorists but human right activists engaged in defending the
rights of the oppressed people of Balochistan.The rally was jointly organised by the Balochistan Action Committee (UK), the World Sindhi Congress,
the Sindhi Baloch Forum and the Balochistan Rights Movement.Later the group presented a memorandum to the British Prime Minister which was
received by one of the officials at 10 Downing.The memorandum called upon the British PM not to cave in to the demands of Pakistan government to
extradite the two arrested Baloch leader. It also asked the PM to press Pakistan to immediately cease its military operation against Baloch nation and
release Sindhi and Baloch human rights activists, immediately stop military and economic aid to Musharraf government and initiate and organise
international observers to visit the affected areas in Balochistan to establish the facts about atrocities committed by Pakistan Army in the province.
Ambreen Hisbani, coordinator of Sindhi Baloch Forum, Mehran Baloch, the Baloch representative to the UN Human Rights Council, Haleem Bhatti,
Chairman of World Sindhi Congress, Dr Safdar Sarki of the same organisation, Samad Baloch of Baloch Action Committee, and human rights activist
Peter Tatchell spoke at the rally. Most of the speakers roundly condemned the Musharraf government for launching military campaign against the
people of Balochistan. Some even talked of secession.A number of speakers noting the geo-strategic location of their province said a fight was going
on there among various global and regional actors to get their foothold as a result of which they added the people of the province are suffering greatly.
They specifically criticised Islamabad and Tehran in this regard saying both are treating their respective Balochistans as their colonies.
Related Links:
| LONDON: Dec 16th, 2007. Baloch and Sindhi activists are protesting at 10 Downing Street against the arrest and detention of Baloch Human right activists Heirbeyar Marri and Faiz Muhammda Baloch. |
SOURCE: ASAAP
