Ms.Farzane Baloch , representative of the Balochistan human rights group, attended and delivered a speech at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva today, December 1, 2023, during 16th Session, UN Forum on Minority Issues.
She said: Baluchistan Human Rights Group urgently highlights the severe human rights crisis in Baluchistan, Iran. This region is plagued by glaring violations that demand immediate attention and action.
Iran’s Islamic Republic erases diverse identities among ethnic minorities, violating their rights to religion, language, and culture. Recent UN reports highlight Baluchistan’s poverty despite its natural resources. Iranian authorities commit discrimination, unjustified arrests, and unlawful killings against the Baluch, suppressing their freedoms and causing harm to civilians, activists, and journalists.
In Baluchistan, the absence of national identification documents condemns hundreds of thousands to a lifetime of exclusion from education, employment, banking, and legal representation. Iran’s strict demands, including DNA tests, only compound the struggles of these marginalized communities in obtaining vital identification papers.
The Iranian government must prioritize accessible legal documentation, especially for remote areas, to alleviate the heavy burdens faced by Baluchistan’s impoverished majority. Simplifying this process is crucial to uphold their fundamental rights, free from discrimination based on socio-economic status, religion, or ethnicity. The Islamic Republic of Iran must treat its Baluch citizens with respect, refraining from relegating them to second-class citizens, and instead, affirm their dignity and equality under the law.
