ANKARA - Fariba Borhanzahi, noting that Baloch women were inspired by the struggle of Kurdish women, said: “Many Baluchi women have embraced the slogan ‘Jin jiyan azadî (Woman, life, freedom)’ as a shared cry.”
The Baloch people, divided between Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan, are fighting to preserve their independence and national identity. Facing death sentences in Iran, long prison terms in Pakistan, and executions in Afghanistan, the Baloch people have no say in governance despite living in autonomous regions, particularly in Iran and Pakistan, and their demands for rights are constantly suppressed by attacks.
On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25, we spoke with human rights activist Fariba Borhanzahi about many topics, including the challenges faced by women in Balochistan, their struggles, and their contacts with the Kurdish Women's Movement.
BEING AN ACTIVIST IN BALOCHISTAN
Fariba Borhanzahi said her struggle began with an awareness of the historic wounds inflicted on the women of the Baloch region and added: “Witnessing direct and structural violence against Baloch women, along with my own and other families’ experiences of repression, made it impossible to remain silent. I felt compelled to use all my strength to amplify the voices of the silenced people of Balochistan. In practice, my work began with raising awareness in neighborhoods and small community groups, and later expanded into networking with women’s organizations, documenting cases of violence, and supporting affected families. The dangers are many: threats of arrest, physical assault, judicial persecution, social stigmatization, and mass detentions of protesters. Being an activist means risking one’s personal and family safety, a reality that becomes even more perilous in a region where authorities often benefit from maintaining repression.”
THE EVENTS THAT SPARKED THE STRUGGLE
Referring to the events that triggered the women's struggle in Balochistan, Fariba Borhanzahi said: “The turning point for many of us was the convergence of two tragedies: the state killing of Jina Amini, which ignited a nationwide uprising, and the revelation that a law-enforcement commander had raped a 15-year-old girl named ‘Maho’ in Chabahar news that further fueled public anger and brought Baloch people onto the streets. These two events showed that gender-based violence and state repression overlap, and that a collective and organized response is essential. Repression in Balochistan has at times resulted in mass casualties; the most notable example is the ‘Bloody Friday of Zahedan’ where security forces opened fire on worshippers and protesters, leaving dozens, up to more than 100 people dead and over 300 injured. This event profoundly affected the community and revealed the state’s willingness to use lethal violence.”
THE WOMEN MOVEMENT
She added: “The women’s movement in Balochistan is a semi-connected network of local groups, independent activists, and some civil organizations. With constant repression, formal organizing is extremely difficult; yet activists continue through fieldwork, supporting victims’ families, providing legal and health education, and documenting human-rights violations. Key initiatives include assisting survivors of violence, running awareness campaigns on women’s rights, and collaborating with international organizations to draw global attention. The movement primarily resists state violence, structural inequality, and ethno-gender discrimination.”
NO ACCESS TO WATER AND ESSENTIAL SERVICES
Fariba Borhanzahi stated that women in Balochistan face arrests and direct physical and sexual violence, and that the deprivation of basic infrastructure such as education, healthcare, and even identity documents are among the main structural forms of violence undermining women's economic autonomy. Fariba Borhanzahi noted that many areas of Sistan and Balochistan lack access to water and essential services, adding that these deficiencies cause girls to drop out of school or marry early.
‘JINEOLOGY INSPIRED US’
Emphasizing the connections between women's organizations in Balochistan and the Kurdish Women's Movement, Fariba Borhanzahi stated that the Kurdish Women's Movement inspired them. “Our relationship with Kurdish Women’s Movement is close: we have collaborated with Kurdish women’s organizations, shared experiences, and drawn inspiration from their long history of struggle. The slogans, methods, and organizational practices of the Kurdish movement, including the concept of jineology and the emphasis on women’s self-reliance, inspire us and have strengthened the political consciousness and mobilization capacity of women in Balochistan. Many Baloch women have embraced ‘Jin jiyan azadî’ as a shared cry. This Kurdish slogan became a global rallying call within weeks resonating not only across Iran but also in protests worldwide. Media outlets, activists, and policymakers recognized it as a symbol of demands for women’s rights and resistance to authoritarianism. Its main impact has been fostering symbolic solidarity, strengthening a shared sense of struggle, and enhancing political confidence among women in different regions,” she said.
SOLIDARITY MUST BE STRENGTHENED
Noting that November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, is a moment of international solidarity with women around the world, Fariba Borhanzahi concluded: Solidarity must go beyond slogans. Current solidarity is valuable but insufficient. We need a stronger link between international pressure, technical and financial support from human-rights bodies, and the strengthening of grassroots networks inside the region. Saying that the most promising element in their struggles is the resilience and solidarity of women and youth, Fariba Borhanzahi's message on November 25 is as follows: ‘The harsher the repression, the more important your voice becomes. Education, documentation, and genuine not merely symbolic solidarity are the keys to lasting change.’”
MA / Deniz Karabudak