Balochistan: Iran Executes 27 Baloch Prisoners in Two Months

QUETTA: A disturbing rise in executions carried out by Iranian authorities against Baloch prisoners has been reported in recent months, with at least 27 individuals executed in October and November 2024 alone.

The victims, from Balochistan, have been sentenced for trumped-up charges ranging from drug trafficking and murder to corruption on earth.

However, human rights groups and activists argue that many of these convictions were based on forced confessions obtained under torture, the absence of legal counsel, and trials that lacked any semblance of fairness.

The executions occurred in various prisons across Iran, with some prisoners reportedly paying a pre-arranged ransom for their release, while others were denied a final visit from their families.

Several of those executed were put to death without their families being notified in advance, leaving many to mourn their loved ones in the dark.

This latest escalation of executions follows a broader pattern of systemic discrimination against the Baloch people by Iran, who face severe restrictions on their cultural, religious, and national rights.

In addition to executions, the Baloch people continue to suffer from widespread deprivation in areas such as education, employment, and economic development. Many Baloch activists have long accused the Iranian state of using these measures to silence dissent and assert control over the region.

In 2023, Iranian authorities executed an estimated 177 Baloch individuals, according to the Baloch Activists Campaign, an organisation dedicated to monitoring human rights violations in Balochistan under Iranian occupation.

This trend of executions has sparked outrage among Baloch communities both within Iran and abroad.

The executions of these 27 prisoners mark another dark chapter in the ongoing oppression of the Baloch people, and the situation continues to draw condemnation from various human rights groups.

There are growing calls for the international community to take immediate action to halt these arbitrary executions and demand that Iranian authorities cease targeting the Baloch population through such systematic abuses.

As the world watches in silence, there is a growing urgency for the international community to hold Iran accountable and pressure the state to end the practice of politically motivated executions.

Human rights organisations continue to call for greater attention to be paid to the suffering of the Baloch people and their continued struggle for basic human rights and freedoms.