Abdollah Aref
Abdollah Aref is the Deputy General Secretary of the Baloch Advocacy and Studies Center (BASC) and a key member of its leadership team. He plays a vital role in ensuring the smooth operation of the organisation and supporting the implementation of its vision and goals. Abdollah is a legal researcher and human rights advocate specialising in international human rights law, with a particular focus on indigenous rights, freedom of religion or belief, and accountability for human rights violations in the Middle East. He is currently pursuing a Master of Laws (LLM) in International Human Rights Law at the University of Essex, where he actively participates in the Human Rights Clinic, working on practical legal projects that support global human rights initiatives. He holds an LLB in Law with Human Rights from Middlesex University London.
Deputy General Secretary
Abdollah has over a decade of experience in human rights advocacy, legal research, and community engagement. From 2013 to 2023, he held key leadership roles in the Baloch Activists Campaign, including Director Manager and Head of Public Relations & Arabic Division. In this capacity, he led international advocacy efforts, documented human rights abuses, and engaged with UN mechanisms and NGOs to raise awareness about the persecution of Baloch people in Iran.
His broader experience includes working with Amnesty International Students, where he served as President of the Middlesex University Amnesty Society, and volunteering with the British Red Cross, providing translation, integration support, and administrative assistance to refugees and asylum seekers. He also served as Head of the Orphans Sponsorship Department at AL Eslah Society, coordinating international humanitarian projects across Asia and Africa.
His research interests include the abolition of the death penalty in Iran, freedom of religion or belief in authoritarian contexts. He is committed to using the law as a tool for justice, accountability, and the protection of Baloch people.