Balochistan: 621 Executed in Iranian Prisons Amid Discrimination and Injustice

DOZZAAP (ZAHEDAN): Over the past eight years, at least 621 Baloch citizens have been executed in Iranian prisons, with a significant portion of these executions taking place in Balochistan. According to the Baloch Activists Campaign Human Rights Organization, this troubling statistic underscores the severe political and ethnic discrimination faced by the Baloch under Iran’s occupation.

The report highlights that between 2017 and 2025, 621 Baloch citizens were executed, with the true number believed to be higher, as many executions were not officially reported due to various restrictions. At least 19 individuals among these were specifically targeted on charges related to security and political activities, suggesting a systemic pattern of targeting activists and individuals seeking basic human rights.

The executions of Baloch citizens have raised serious concerns among human rights organisations, questioning not only the legality and transparency of the judicial system but also the broader issues of ethnic and political discrimination. The 19 individuals executed on political and security grounds were often accused of offenses such as “moharebeh” (waging war against God), “ifsad fil-ard” (spreading corruption on Earth), or “collaboration with anti-regime groups.” However, these charges have been criticised for lacking substantial evidence and for being used as pretexts to silence opposition and suppress dissent.

The executions, which have occurred at an average rate of 77 per year, have had a profound impact on the Baloch community, further exacerbated existing tensions. Many analysts argue that these executions are symptomatic of broader systemic discrimination, where Baloch activists or individuals advocating for their basic rights are disproportionately targeted.

Human rights groups also point to the flawed judicial processes, which often involve trials lacking independence, transparency, and access to fair legal representation. The executions are seen by many as a direct consequence of the Iranian government’s repressive policies aimed at quelling dissent and maintaining control over oppressed nations.

The Baloch people, who have historically faced economic, social, and political marginalisation, now find themselves not only facing systemic oppression but also living under the constant threat of arbitrary execution.

As the nation remembers its fallen loved ones, many Baloch activists and human rights organisations continue to call for international intervention to hold Iran accountable for its human rights violations and to end the cycle of violence and injustice against Balochistan.

The ongoing executions have created a deep sense of fear and disillusionment among the Baloch people. The calls for justice and accountability continue to grow louder, as the world watches the Baloch community’s silent suffering in the shadow of systemic discrimination by Iran.