Brazilian Lawmaker Expresses Solidarity with Detained Gilgit-Baltistan Leaders in Parliamentary Address

Rio de Janeiro / Muzaffarabad: Glauber Braga member of Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies from the Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL), has expressed solidarity with the detained leaders of the Awami Action Committee Gilgit Bltistan (AACGB) in Gilgit-Baltistan, highlighting concerns over the repression of peaceful political movements in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

During a recent session of the Brazilian Parliament, the lawmaker emphasized that the suppression of grassroots movements striving for rights is not only a regional issue but a global concern for justice-loving people across the world.

“Attempts to silence voices demanding basic rights—be it land, identity, or autonomy—are deeply troubling. Imprisoning leadership does not end the struggle; it only exposes the urgency of their demands,” the parliamentarian said.

The speech comes amid a growing crackdown on activists and leaders in Gilgit-Baltistan, where citizens have long been advocating for land reforms, local resource control, and greater political recognition. Human rights defenders and civil society organizations have raised alarms about what they call the criminalization of dissent in the mountainous region.

The Brazilian MP called on both the Brazilian government and international human rights bodies to take notice of the situation and ensure that the people of Gilgit-Baltistan are granted their fundamental rights, including freedom of speech, association, and peaceful protest.

“Labeling peaceful protestors as terrorists sets a dangerous precedent,” the lawmaker warned. “It is the duty of every conscious global citizen to challenge this trend.”

Observers note that such rare expressions of international solidarity highlight the growing visibility of struggles in remote or underrepresented regions like Gilgit-Baltistan. The MP’s remarks were widely circulated on social media under hashtags such as #SolidarityForever, #GilgitBaltistan, and #HumanRights.

The development adds to increasing calls for transparency, dialogue, and the protection of civil liberties in Pakistan-administered regions of Kashmir, including both Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK). Rights groups have urged Islamabad to engage constructively with local communities rather than resort to mass arrests and intimidation.

Gilgit-Baltistan, a region of strategic importance bordering China and India, has seen waves of public mobilization in recent years over socio-economic grievances and demands for constitutional rights. Despite its administrative ties to Pakistan, the region remains outside the country’s formal constitutional framework, further complicating its political status.

As voices of support emerge from distant corners of the world, many activists hope international pressure will help deter repression and foster a more democratic approach to resolving longstanding issues in the region.