The Baloch people in Iran, primarily residing in the province of Sistan and Baluchistan, face a new wave of political and cultural challenges as the Iranian regime proposes to divide the province into several parts. This move is seen as an attempt to further marginalize the Baloch population and eradicate their identity by eliminating the "Baloch" name from administrative regions.

Background of Sistan and Baluchistan

Sistan and Baluchistan, Iran's second-largest province, is home to a significant Baloch population, estimated to be about 90% of the province's inhabitants​ . The region has historically been marginalized, both economically and politically. Despite its rich natural resources, including oil, gas, and minerals, the province suffers from severe underdevelopment, high poverty rates, and low literacy levels​.

Proposed Division and Its Implications

The Iranian government's proposal to divide Sistan and Baluchistan is viewed with suspicion and resistance by the Baloch community. Activists argue that this division is a strategic move to dilute Baloch political influence and disrupt their social cohesion. By renaming and reorganizing the regions, the government aims to weaken the Baloch identity and suppress their demand for greater autonomy and rights.

This plan also involves administrative changes that would see areas traditionally inhabited by Baloch people being governed by officials from other ethnic groups, particularly Persians. This is consistent with the regime's broader policy of marginalizing ethnic minorities by excluding them from significant political positions and economic opportunities​.

Historical Context and Current Resistance

The historical context of the Baloch struggle is crucial in understanding the resistance to this plan. The Baloch people have a rich history of resistance against domination and have always valued their autonomy and cultural heritage. The proposed division is seen as a continuation of efforts to undermine their cultural and political existence.

The regime's intentions to divide Sistan and Baluchistan are part of a broader strategy to control and suppress the Baloch population. By fragmenting the province, the government aims to weaken the Baloch community's ability to organize and resist oppression. The Baloch have organized numerous protests and strikes to oppose this plan, demonstrating their resolve to protect their identity and rights.

Identity and Cultural Erasure

The proposed division threatens not just the political, but also the cultural and social fabric of the Baloch community. The erasure of the "Baloch" name from administrative regions is a direct attack on the identity of the Baloch people. This symbolic erasure aims to diminish the historical and cultural significance of the Baloch people within Iran.

The resistance to the proposed division is not just about administrative boundaries but about preserving the essence of Baloch history, language, and traditions.

Broader Context of Repression

The division proposal comes amid increased repression of the Baloch people. The Iranian regime has intensified its surveillance, harassment, and arrest of Baloch activists, both within Iran and abroad. The economic marginalization and political exclusion faced by the Baloch have only fueled their struggle for recognition and rights​.

The proposed division of Sistan and Baluchistan is seen by many as a deliberate attempt by the Iranian regime to erase the Baloch identity and weaken their political influence. This move is part of a broader pattern of marginalization and repression faced by the Baloch people. As they continue to resist these plans, the Baloch community calls for international support and recognition of their plight.

Balochistan, governed by a colonial military system, has the highest number of executions in Iran. According to Amnesty International, approximately 30% of executions in Iran occur in Balochistan, despite the Baloch making up only 3% of the population. The events of Zahedan's "Bloody Friday" on September 30, 2022, where over 100 Baloch demonstrators were killed, mark a stark example of the Iranian regime's brutal tactics. These executions are part of a broader strategy to instill fear and terror among the Baloch, Kurd, Arab, and other oppressed communities in Iran.

Systematic Repression and Militarization

The Iranian regime's policy in Balochistan involves creating conditions for further militarization. This enables the government to achieve its goals of dividing Balochistan and establishing settlements for non-native populations, displacing indigenous people to manipulate the region's demographic structure. The regime's security forces actively create divisions among the Baloch people, facilitating targeted conflicts and violence to suppress resistance.

The Role of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC)

The IRGC controls the drug trafficking mafia in Balochistan, spreading drug addiction among the youth to weaken the community. To showcase their fight against drug trafficking, the IRGC often arrests small-scale drug dealers who do not collaborate with them, subjecting them to torture and forced confessions before handing them over to execution squads.

We consider executions as atrocious, inhumane, and unethical, contradicting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. And condemn the post-"Bloody Friday" executions as state-sponsored killings designed to instill fear and suppress activism. We urge the international community and human rights activists to pressure Iran to halt executions and ensure fair trials.

Persistent Protests and Resistance

Despite severe suppression, protests continue in Balochistan. On September 29, 2023, approximately 200 Baloch protesters, including 100 children, were arrested, and 20 were injured. The following day, a region-wide strike commemorated the anniversary of "Bloody Friday," demonstrating the resilience of the Baloch people in their fight for democracy, equal rights, and freedom in Iran.

We call for immediate international action to halt executions and ensure fair trials in Iran. The global community must take a firm stand against these human rights violations. Human rights organizations, governments, and concerned citizens worldwide must support the Baloch struggle for justice and human rights. We can demand change, justice, and an end to the oppression of the Baloch people.

The international community's intervention is crucial to stopping the Iranian regime's atrocities. We must use our voices to demand justice and protect the human rights of the Baloch and other oppressed communities in Iran.

High Execution Rates and Unfair Trials

Baluchistan has one of the highest execution rates in Iran, with numerous reports of unfair trials and torture to extract confessions. These executions often target young Baluch men accused of drug trafficking or political activism. According to Rasank News, many of those executed are political prisoners who were denied fair trials and subjected to severe torture​. Iran International also reported a wave of 19 executions in five days, primarily targeting Baluch individuals, reflecting the Iranian regime's strategy to silence dissent​.

Economic and Cultural Discrimination

Baluchistan suffers from extreme poverty and underdevelopment. The region has the lowest life expectancy, adult literacy, and primary school enrollment rates in Iran. Economic opportunities are scarce, forcing many Baluchis into illegal activities like fuel smuggling, which exposes them to lethal force from security personnel. The government deliberately keeps the region underdeveloped to maintain control​ . The Minority Rights Group International report details systemic exclusion from education, healthcare, and employment​​.

Religious Discrimination

Religious freedom is severely restricted for the Sunni Baluch population. Despite constitutional guarantees of religious freedom, these rights are only extended to recognized religions (Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism). Sunni Baluchis face significant persecution, including the demolition of Sunni seminaries and bans on mosque construction. The Iranian regime's religious discrimination is intertwined with ethnic discrimination, worsening the plight of the Baluch community​​​ .

Arbitrary Arrests and Torture

Arbitrary arrests and torture are widespread in Baluchistan. Reports document numerous cases where Baluchi activists and ordinary citizens are detained without due process. Detainees often face severe torture to extract confessions, and trials are conducted in secrecy without legal representation. For instance, the case of Emadeddin Mowla-Zehi, a Baluchi activist, illustrates the systemic use of torture and unfair judicial practices against Baluch individuals​.

Excessive Use of Force

Security forces in Iranian Baluchistan frequently use excessive and lethal force against the local population, particularly in anti-smuggling operations. Many Baluchis are killed annually, and the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center reports that these aggressive border security measures have led to numerous deaths and injuries among Baluchi smugglers and innocent bystanders​.

Gender-Based Violence

Baluch women face significant gender-based violence and discrimination. A particularly egregious example is the rape of 41 girls in Iranshahr by members of the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps, with no convictions of the perpetrators​ ​. This reflects the broader pattern of gender inequality and violence against women in the region.

Recent Developments

Recent reports from Rasank News indicate ongoing violations, such as the arbitrary detention of Baluch citizens without judicial warrants, harassment of political activists, and continued use of lethal force by security personnel​ . These reports emphasize the regime's strategy of maintaining control through fear and repression.

Human rights organizations recommend:

• Ending arbitrary arrests and torture.
• Ensuring fair trials and abolishing the death penalty.
• Addressing economic disparities and improving access to education and employment for Baluchis.
• Lifting all restrictions on religious and cultural rights of minorities.

The Baluch minority in Iranian Baluchistan faces extensive human rights abuses, including high execution rates, economic and cultural discrimination, religious persecution, and unfair judicial practices. Addressing these issues requires significant reforms and a commitment to upholding the human rights of all citizens, regardless of ethnic or religious background.