NETHERLANDS
A wave of international concern reached the gates of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as protesters gathered to demand action over missing persons in Pakistan’s Sindh province. Organized by the Europe chapter of Voice for Missing Persons of Sindh, the demonstration aimed to shine a global spotlight on what activists describe as a terrifying trend of enforced disappearances.
Leaders of the protest, including coordinators Sarang Sindhi and Saeed Sindhi, shared alarming statistics during the event. They alleged that since 2020, more than 10,000 people have vanished, including over 3,500 political activists. According to the organizers, these abductions happen almost weekly, targeting those who dare to speak out against the current system. They believe this is a clear pattern of repression designed to silence dissenting voices across the region.
Following the loud and passionate demonstration, the group officially submitted a memorandum to the ICJ administration. The document outlines specific human rights violations and calls for the immediate release of well-known activists like Sohail Raza Bhatti, Ejaz Gaho, and Ayoub Kandhro. The delegation also took their fight to the International Commission on Missing Persons, where officials reportedly promised to support efforts to track down those who have disappeared. This protest highlights a growing frustration among human rights defenders who feel that local authorities are failing to provide transparency. As the calls for international help get louder, the world is beginning to take notice of the quiet crisis unfolding in Sindh.
