A group of nine UN human rights experts have condemned the double life sentence of Nobel Peace Prize nominee Dr Mahrang Baloch. The sentence, handed down more than two weeks ago, has sparked widespread criticism from multiple human rights groups. In a joint letter released on Wednesday, the experts slammed the severe penalties and the judicial process that led to them, calling the trial “unfair”. “Dr Baloch’s punishment is a travesty of justice, following an unfair trial and the misuse of counter-terrorism and murder charges to suppress peaceful protest and freedoms of association and expression,” the experts said.“We are dismayed by the number of cases Dr Baloch has faced, which aim to intimidate, punish and deter her and other Baloch activists advocating for victims of human rights violations.”They said the right to a fair trial under international law must always be respected, regardless of whether national security or counter-terrorism measures are invoked. Disputed Trial The murder and terrorism charges stem from a sit-in protest in July 2024 in the Pakistani port city of Gwadar. The protest was organised by the Baloch Yekjehti Committee (BYC), a group formed by Dr Baloch to campaign against human rights violations. According to UN experts, the protests aimed to expose the unlawful seizure of Indigenous lands and resources tied to foreign investment, while also bringing to light the systemic discrimination, enforced disappearances, and violence against the Baloch minority.During the protests, a security personnel was killed. Dr Baloch and the BYC’s leader Sibghatullah Shah Ji were arrested and tried for murder and counter-terrorism in relation to the death. The UN experts said that the Anti-Terrorism Court deduced that mere participation in the protest demonstrated “a shared intent to murder”, and further classified their actions as terrorism under the Anti-Terrorism Act.The BYC has welcomed the stance taken by the experts, expanding on the allegedly flawed legal proceedings. The movement’s leaders said Dr Baloch and Mr Shah Ji, who still face 50 other “fabricated cases” were subjected to 26 days of “faceless trials”. Despite their firm protest and boycott of the proceedings, the court moved forward.“Despite their refusal to consent, state-appointed lawyers were imposed on them against their wishes. Subsequently, Dr Mahrang and Sibghatullah Shah Ji were sentenced to life imprisonment, while trials in several other cases remain ongoing,” the leaders wrote.Detained about 16 months ago, Dr Baloch remains in prison, now facing two terms of life imprisonment. Mahrang BalochThe 33-year-old doctor has become the face of a movement advocating for the rights of Pakistan’s Baloch minority. She rose to global prominence after leading a major protest in which hundreds of women marched more than 1,500km to the capital to protest against the enforced disappearances of Baloch men. The march drew international attention to the community’s struggle and earned Dr Baloch widespread recognition. In 2024, she was named to both the Time 100 Emerging Leaders list and the BBC’s 100 Most Inspiring and Influential Women. Her advocacy subsequently led to her nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.