Alternative Nobel Prize: “It transforms struggle into solidarity”

The fact that Jalila Haider was born on December 10th, International Human Rights Day, probably has biological and not political reasons. Nevertheless, there is probably no more fitting birthday for a human rights lawyer. The now 41-year-old from Quetta, the capital of the troubled Balochistan province, is Pakistan's first female lawyer from the discriminated against Hasara minority and is known at home and abroad as a feminist human rights lawyer. Now she will be honored with the Right Livelihood Award 2026.

Haider not only courageously defends members of ethnic minorities, oppressed women and trans people in a society in which patriarchal and Islamist structures dominate and the military abuses their power. Haider also takes on many cases that are too sensitive for others and she represents many clients pro bono.

As an activist, she fights against political repression and for progressive change. She organized Quetta's first women's march and founded an organization that provides jobs for female victims of terrorism. She is repeatedly physically threatened, legally persecuted and prevented from traveling abroad. “I have the feeling that without global recognition I could already be dead,” says the lawyer, who has already received several international awards.

Haider's notoriety may have helped Pakistan's powerful military chief seek a conversation with her in 2018 when she and other people went on a hunger strike in Quetta to protest against the violence against Hasara. The general promised her improvements that actually reduced the violence.

“I admire her indomitability, her authenticity and the fact that she neither becomes cynical nor betrays her principles,” says Fauzia Yazdani to the taz. The influencer and administrative official from Islamabad from the feministaz network has known Haider for years. “It transforms struggle into solidarity and enables others to live their lives with more dignity, equality and freedom.”

“She deserves the award,” says Mehr F. ​​Husain, a publicist from Lahore and also from the feministaz network. “She performed one miracle after another.”