Friend got silenced in game for being afk

[Drocos-wyrmrest-accord]

@Kaiyeri-bloodsail-buccaneers

@Drocos-wyrmrest-accord

explanation where they explain that bans are not automatic

They said nothing of the sort. They simply said they will go back and review them AFTER they were already automatically banned.

They said (from your own post)

@Policy on Battlegrounds Participation

When lots of players report a player AFK in Alterac Valley, the only automatic behavior is the application of a debuff that prevents you from gaining honor until you engage in PvP combat, which can be seen in-game.

Per Blizzard, the only automatic behavior is a debuff.