Two activists held in London face risk of torture if deported

Two activists held in London face risk of torture if deported
Pakistani Human Rights Commission Chairperson Asma Jahangir intervenes
Parhlad Kumar Aggarwal 23/12/2007 11:45:28 AM(IST)

On December 4, Faiz Baloch (25) and Hyrbyair Marri (39) of North and West London respectively were arrested following raids at their houses. It was reported in the media that a large quantity of documents, DVDs, computer files and money had been recovered following searches made either at the victims''' places or offices.



On December 11, charges were filed against them at the Westminster Magistrates Court in Central London for conspiring to incite another person to commit an act of terrorism under the Terrorism Act of 2000. The two have also been allegedly accused of having links with the Balochistan Liberation Army, which is considered a terrorist organization by the British government.



Hyrbyair's arrest happened days after his elder brother, Mr. Balach Marri, was also killed in the Sarlat area of Naushki, Balochistan during a military operation on November 21. The elder Marri was formerly the leader of an opposition party in the Balochistan provincial assembly while his younger brother, Hyrbyair, was the provincial minister in the early 90s.



It has been reported in the media, including the Guardian newspaper and the BBC Urdu Service that the British government may send them back to Pakistan in exchange for a prisoner, Rashid Rauf, who is accused in plotting to blow up transatlantic aircrafts in August 2006. He was held in Pakistan but had escaped ten days ago.



Since 2005, the government of Pakistan has reportedly been making efforts to extradite the Marri brothers. Once, the government also attempted to prevent Hybyar's younger brother, Mehran Baloch, from intervening before the UN Human Rights Council on behalf of the Interfaith International regarding military operations in Balochistan.



Only with the intervention of Asma Jihangir, chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Mehran was able to speak at the Council.