Iran Executes Three Baluch Prisoners

DOZAAP (ZAHEDAN) October 9, 2024: The Iranian authorities have executed three Baluch prisoners, marking a troubling continuation of capital punishment in the country.

The executions took place in Qazalhasar Prison in Karaj and Zahedan Prison in Iranian-Occupied Balochistan.

According to the Baloch Activists Campaign, the prisoners executed today were identified as Ahmad Naroui, 33, son of Anwar, Mohammad Ishaq Zahi, 31, son of Youssef from Zahedan and Mahdi Barahui, 21, son of Juma Gul from Khash.

Ahmad and Mohammad were sentenced to death in 2020 after being arrested on drug-related charges in Tehran. They were part of a group that included three other relatives who also faced similar charges, leading to their sentences by the Revolutionary Court.

Mahdi Barahui, who was only 17 years old when he was arrested in 2019, faced murder charges stemming from a mass brawl in Khash. He was initially transferred to a juvenile rehabilitation centre before being sentenced to death by the Special Children’s Court. His execution occurred after five years of incarceration in Zahedan Central Prison.

This latest round of executions contributes to a grim statistic: at least 34 Baluch citizens have been executed in the first six months of 2024 alone, according to reports. Among those executed, at least two were women. The majority of the executions—27 individuals—were for drug-related offences, while seven others faced charges of murder.

The use of the death penalty in Iran has drawn international criticism, particularly regarding its application to vulnerable populations, including oppressed nations like the Baloch.