Dear friends,

I’m writing with heartbreaking news. One of the families in our network—human rights defenders who had been living in Pakistan while waiting for their U.S. visa—was arrested last night by Pakistani police while seeking care at a hospital for their sick daughter. Despite being in the final stages of their U.S. case, they were deported back to Afghanistan.

The photo attached to this update was taken at the arrest—at the hospital, where two sisters said goodbye, not knowing if they will ever see each other again. One remains in Pakistan; the other was taken across the border.

This is no longer a risk. It is happening. Now.
And time is running out.

The Pakistani government has given a deportation deadline of March 31, but detentions and deportations are already underway. The people affected are human rights defenders, women leaders, educators, journalists—those who stood up for justice and equality and are now being punished for it.

We urgently call for:

1. A safe and protected location in Pakistan, where these families can be brought together and guaranteed protection while their humanitarian pathways are processed—with clear communication to Pakistani authorities that they must not be harassed or deported during this time.

2. Immediate humanitarian visas and evacuation by any country willing to stand up for human rights and provide refuge.

We cannot do this alone. Please keep sharing this petition. Please speak up. If you have direct connections to diplomats, journalists, or officials—now is the time to act.

With urgency and hope,
Nadja & team

#ProtectHumanRights #Afghanistan #SafePassage #EvacuateNow #HumanitarianCrisis #AfghanWomen #StopDeportations