HRC 63 Item 9 : Daughter’s Plea to the Human Rights Council: Free Idris Khattak

On Thursday 1 October 2026, during the general debate under Item 9 of the 63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, devoted to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance, Talia Khan Khattak took the floor to appeal for the release of her father, Idris Khattak, a well-known Pashtun human rights defender from Pakistan.

Idris Khattak was subjected to an enforced disappearance on 13 November 2019 and spent seven months in secret detention before being sentenced in November 2021 by a military court to 14 years in prison, following a closed trial held on espionage charges. On 10 November 2025, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention adopted Opinion No. 62/2025 concerning Mohammad Idris Khattak, in which it found his detention arbitrary and contrary to international law, and called for his immediate release, compensation and an investigation

. In April 2026, UN experts warned that his uncontrolled diabetes and other medical conditions had become life threatening and called on Pakistan to release him without delay

. Pakistani authorities have not implemented these recommendations.

Speaking before the Council, Talia Khan Khattak grounded her appeal in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, which commits States to equality and equal treatment before tribunals. Here is her statement in full:

Thank you, Mr. President.

The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action commits States to equality and equal treatment before tribunals. I speak today as the daughter of Idris Khattak, a well-known Pashtun human rights defender from Pakistan.

On 13 November 2019, my father was abducted from his car and disappeared. For seven months, our family did not know where he was or whether he was even alive. In November 2021, a military court sentenced him to 14 years in prison following a secret trial.

On 10 November 2025, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found his detention arbitrary and in violation of international law, and called for his immediate release, compensation, and an investigation.

My father is 63. He is not allowed to make telephone calls and is not receiving adequate medical attention. In April 2026, UN experts warned that his uncontrolled diabetes and other medical conditions had become life threatening and called for his immediate release.

We call on this Council to urge Pakistan to release my father immediately and comply with the Durban Declaration and the Working Group’s Opinion.

Thank you.