The practice of execution, a barbaric and inhumane punishment, must be abolished immediately. In non-democratic countries, especially those with totalitarian ideologies, executions are primarily used to instill fear and maintain control. They are often carried out as revenge killings, aiming to suppress dissent and protect corrupt regimes. Among 195 independent countries, 108 have abolished the death penalty for all crimes, and 7 have done so for ordinary crimes. However, Iran remains one of the few countries that still widely uses execution, particularly in the Balochistan region.
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.
