Oct 26, 2012

Balochistan: Urgent Appeal To Stop Mass Arrests And Executions


The Balochistan Peoples Party urges the international community to put pressure on the Iranian Government to stop the mass arrests and executions of Baloch people. 

Below is a statement by the Balochistan Peoples Party:

Information from various human rights organizations proves that the Iranian regime has planned mass executions and arrests of Baloch people over the years.

In May 2012 in Zahidan Prison two Baloch prisoners were sentenced to death following a demonstration in Rask City and other towns in Sarbaz area. Several political prisoner in Zahidan have been sent to other prisons far from Balochistan after having protested against the death sentences of their fellow inmates. 

Last Friday [19 October 2012] Sunny religious extremist suicide killings in Chabhar resulted in the death of three people; the suicide bomber and two Baseeji already condemned by Balochistan People Party. As a result of this attack in the Balochistan coastal city, the Iranian regime has started a new wave of executions and arrests.

Amnesty international wrote in a statement that: “the government was increasingly using the death penalty as a way of stemming unrest in areas with large ethnic minorities. Bomb attacks in the predominantly Arab province of Khuzestan and ethnic Baluch areas of Sistan-Baluchistan province in recent years were followed by a wave of often public executions. Some of the condemned men were shown on state television making "confessions" that are believed to have been extracted from them under torture or other duress.”[1]

On 21st October [2012], three days after the suicide bombing in Chabhar and, as stressed by the authorities, as a form of revenge for the killings, three young political prisoners, including a teenager, were hanged inside the prison of Zahidan. The bodies were not handed over to the families but instead were buried in a unknown place by the authorities.

 

The names of the three hanged men are:

1- Abdolbaaset Rigi s/o Mohammad Rezaa

2- Abdoljalil Rigi s/o Rasool

3- Yahyaa Charizahi s/o Rostam

 

One day after these executions the authorities have informed the families of other political prisoners that their loved ones will soon be executed.

 

The list of political prisoners who face imminent execution are:

1- Hamze Rigi, 19 years old and is on a hunger strike to protest against his death sentence.

2- Abdulwahab Rigi’ was arrested as a 17 year old in October 2010

3- Merullah Rigi was also arrested as a 17 year old in October 2010

4- Salman Miyahi, 26 years old

5- Habibullah Riginezhad Shorak

6- Navid Shejahi 21 years old

7- Ayoub bahramzahi.

8- Hamid Vakalat 20 years old

9- Bahir Ahmed Hossien Zahi,

10- Abdul Khalegh Sahhozahi.

11- Ahmed Sherani

 

On 23rd of October [2012], the homes of some of the relatives of anti-regime activists in Meskotan found in the Nikshar district were also damaged and four people arrested. The authorities have intimidated the family members of those arrested warning them that if clashes with the regime's security forces were to occur, they would be executed.

 

The names of the four people who were arrested in Meskotan are:

1- Kheir Mohamad Naroui,

2- Ghalandar Amiri,

3- Mohamad Amin Amiri

4- Amin Naroe.

 

As a reuslt of Balochistan's ethnic and religious identity differences with the Iranian state, life for the Baloch community has deteriorated and become intolerable. Sectarian violence and discriminatory policies against the Baloch people are very much part and parcel of their daily life.

 

Actions requested by the international community:

Based on the above, and on behalf of the Baloch people in Iran, the Balochistan People's Party urges you to:

• Help stop the execution of Baloch political prisoners and prisoners arrested on other charges.

• Raise the issue with the Tehran authorities regarding the continued violation of basic human rights of the Baloch people and other minorities in Iran.

• Call upon the Tehran authorities to immediately investigate the extrajudicial killings of civilian Baloch and other minorities living in Iran. Urge them to take immediate measures to ensure that the enforced displacement of the Baloch people is halted.

• Call upon the Tehran authorities to release all political prisoners and give them a fair, free and open trial with full access to defense lawyers.