85 Baloch Prisoners at Imminent Risk of Execution Amid Concerns Over Fair Trial Process

DOZZAAP (ZAHDAN): In a troubling development, 85 Baloch prisoners in Zahedan Central Prison are facing imminent execution, according to the Baloch Activists Campaign. Reports indicate that the prisoners, who have been convicted on charges including drug-related offenses and murder, could be executed before the end of the current Persian year.

The sentences for these individuals have already been issued, with prison officials quoting judicial authorities stating that the executions are scheduled to take place soon. However, concerns have been raised regarding the fairness of the trials and the overall legal process. Human rights groups warn that many of these prisoners may have been sentenced without sufficient evidence or a fair trial.

According to sources from the Baloch Activists Campaign, most of the prisoners are facing charges related to drugs and homicide. However, interviews with the families of some of the death row prisoners suggest that many have been convicted based on insufficient evidence. In several cases, prisoners were sentenced to death simply for being present at the crime scene, rather than being proven guilty of the crime itself.

One family member, who requested anonymity, shared their concern: “My brother did not kill anyone. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. But the court did not listen to our side of the story. They sentenced him to death without any real proof.”

Additionally, families of the victims involved in these cases have reportedly withheld their consent for clemency, citing the fact that the main perpetrators are still at large. Despite knowing that the accused individuals are not the murderers, the victims’ families have refrained from offering forgiveness, leaving the fate of the prisoners in limbo.

The Baloch Activists Campaign, along with 15 other international human rights organizations, has issued a joint statement calling for the immediate cessation of these executions and a thorough review of the prisoners’ cases. The organizations have urged Iranian authorities to ensure that all cases are examined according to international standards of justice, including the right to a fair trial and the opportunity for a retrial.

“We are deeply concerned about the lack of due process in these cases. These prisoners deserve a fair chance to prove their innocence,” said a spokesperson for the Baloch Activists Campaign. “The international community must act urgently to prevent these unjust executions.”

Human rights organizations are also calling on the United Nations to intervene and apply diplomatic pressure on Iran to prevent the mass execution of these prisoners. Specifically, they have urged the UN’s special rapporteurs on human rights, extrajudicial executions, and minority issues to take immediate action to stop the executions and ensure a fair legal process for all involved.

The potential execution of 85 individuals could have profound psychological and social effects, not only on the families of the prisoners but also on the wider Baloch community. Human rights advocates warn that these executions could escalate tensions and grief, as well as create long-lasting emotional and moral repercussions for the Iranian authorities responsible for carrying out the sentences.

“We are asking the victims’ families to help prevent these executions,” said the campaign spokesperson. “By engaging in dialogue with local leaders and elders, there is still hope for reconciliation and a chance to spare these lives.”

The joint statement issued by the human rights organizations also called on the international community, including the United Nations and all relevant human rights bodies, to take swift, coordinated action to prevent the execution of the 85 Baloch prisoners. The organizations urged that all efforts be made to ensure that the prisoners receive a fair hearing and that their cases are reviewed in full accordance with international human rights principles.

With the clock ticking down to the scheduled executions, the situation remains critical. The global community is now closely watching to see whether Iran will heed the calls for justice and intervene to stop the executions.

As the deadline for the executions approaches, the families of the 85 Baloch prisoners and human rights organizations are urging swift action to prevent what could become a mass execution. The fate of these individuals and their loved ones now hangs in the balance, with hopes for justice and reconciliation remaining as fragile as ever.