Has Mahrang Baloch Really Been Nominated for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize?

Mahrang Baloch Confirms Nomination for 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for Her Advocacy on Balochistan’s Human Rights Issues.

In 2025, a total of 338 nominations have been made for the Nobel Peace Prize, leading to widespread speculation about which prominent names may be included. Among these, one name has gained particular attention in Pakistan.

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Mahrang Baloch, a social activist advocating for the disappeared Baloch people and their families in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, has claimed that she has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize this year.

However, it is important to clarify that the Norwegian Nobel Committee, which compiles the nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize, does not release the names of the nominees, nor does it confirm or deny such claims when individuals assert they have been nominated.

So far, only two Pakistani citizens have received the Nobel Prize. Malala Yousafzai was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, while Dr. Abdul Salam won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1979. The question remains: has Mahrang Baloch truly been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize?

This matter gained attention when Pakistani social media reported that Mahrang Baloch was among the nominees for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.

Journalist Kia Baloch tweeted that this nomination was due to Mahrang’s ongoing struggle for human rights in Balochistan.

In response, Mahrang Baloch confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that the news was accurate.

Media personnel have been reaching out to me about this news, and I can confirm that it is true. I am deeply honored by this nomination, but it is not about me. It is about the thousands of Baloch who have been forcibly disappeared and the families demanding justice. The fight… https://t.co/uii9iHHRNq

— Mahrang Baloch (@MahrangBaloch_) March 6, 2025

She stated, “This is not about me but about the thousands of Baloch who have been forcibly disappeared, and whose families are demanding justice. The fight for human rights in Balochistan must not be ignored by global civil society and civilised nations.”

Although the Nobel Committee does not publicly release the names of nominees, Mahrang Baloch told the BBC that there is no restriction on individuals announcing their own nominations. She clarified, “It is the tradition of the Norwegian Nobel Committee to keep the names of nominees and nominators confidential for 50 years. However, the nominees themselves are free to announce it, and there is no restriction on that.”

Mahrang further explained that she was informed by her nominators before the official nomination in January, and she had given her consent. Despite this, she emphasized that the Norwegian Nobel Committee does not officially confirm any nomination, and while she cannot disclose the name of the individual who nominated her, she can confirm that she has been nominated.

How Are Nobel Peace Prize Nominations Made?

The process of nominating and awarding the Nobel Peace Prize takes about eight months. It begins with the nomination deadline on January 31 and concludes with the announcement in the first week of October.

Nominations can be made by qualified individuals, including academics, university professors, scientists, and previous laureates. According to the rules of the Nobel Foundation, the list of nominees cannot be published for 50 years. Individuals cannot nominate themselves.

Once all nominations are collected, a shortlist of the most deserving and compelling candidates is drawn up. This list is reviewed by permanent assistants of the Nobel Committee and international experts.

The laureates (Nobel Prize winners) are chosen based on their significant contributions to humanity, as specified in Alfred Nobel’s will. On occasion, there have been years where no prize was awarded, often during the World Wars.

The Nobel Foundation’s rules state that if no individual is deemed deserving of the award in a given category, the prize will not be granted, and the funds will be reserved for the following year.

Leaked Nominations

Sometimes, the names of nominees are leaked, either through speculation or when nominators themselves disclose the information. According to the Nobel Foundation, nominees’ details are kept confidential for 50 years, although the archives can sometimes be opened earlier if the nominee is deceased.

Who is Mahrang Baloch?

Mahrang Baloch was listed in BBC’s 100 Women of 2024. She has been a prominent figure in the protests against alleged enforced disappearances in Balochistan, taking part in various demonstrations across Pakistan.

Her activism began after her father was allegedly abducted by security forces in 2009 and found dead two years later with signs of torture. In late 2023, Mahrang led a 1000-mile march from Balochistan to Islamabad, demanding information about missing relatives. During the march, she was arrested twice.

Protesters from Balochistan claim that their loved ones were abducted and killed by Pakistani security forces in counter-insurgency operations, a claim that Islamabad denies.

Since then, Mahrang has become a leading figure in the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, an organisation advocating for human rights in Balochistan. Her efforts were recognized in TIME’s 100 Next 2024 list of emerging leaders in the field of human rights.