Continuing Efforts of the Balochistan Human Rights Group in International Forums
At the “Human Rights in Iran” conference held in Geneva on March 6, 2025, Sabah Bandoui spoke about the situation of the Baloch people, systemic repression, widespread poverty, and human rights violations in Balochistan. He highlighted the suppression of protests, mass executions, and the lack of access to fundamental rights for the Baloch population.
During a side event at the UN Human Rights Council on the same day in Geneva, Sabah Bandoui raised concerns over the killing of Yousef Shahli Boor, a five-year-old Baloch child, and called for accountability from Iranian authorities. She also spoke about poverty, discrimination, the lack of identification documents for many Baloch people, and the severe repression of Baloch activists. He urged the international community to take action to end these injustices.
At the virtual conference Iranian Women and Beijing +30”, held on March 13, 2025, Fariba Borhanzahi spoke about the challenges faced by Baloch women and the role of gender and ethnic discrimination in their deprivation of basic rights. She also addressed the repression of female activists and the international community’s role in supporting women’s rights in Iran.
During the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council, held on March 18, 2025, in Geneva, Sabah Bandoui endorsed the findings of the Independent Fact-Finding Mission (FFMI) regarding violations of the rights of ethnic and religious minorities. He emphasized that discrimination against the Baloch and other minorities must be acknowledged and urged the global community to take concrete steps toward justice and accountability.
These meetings provided an opportunity for the Balochistan Human Rights Group to draw international attention to the widespread human rights violations in Iran, particularly against the Baloch people, women, and minorities, and to call for urgent action from human rights organizations.
Release of a Baloch Woman Sentenced to Execution
On March 12, 2025, Sudabeh Irandegani, a 34-year-old Baloch woman sentenced to death for murder, was released from Iranshahr prison after the payment of blood money and receiving a pardon from the victim’s family.
Execution of a Baloch Prisoner in Mashhad
In the early hours of March 1, 2025, Masoud Yagizi (Barahouei), a 35-year-old Baloch prisoner, was executed in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad, on drug-related charges. The execution was carried out without granting him a final meeting with his family.
Transfer of Two Baloch Brothers for Execution
On March 2, 2025, Javad and Mansour Boladai, two Baloch brothers sentenced to death, were transferred from Chabahar prison to Zahedan for execution. Their family has denounced the trial process as unfair.
Six Killed and Ten Injured by Unidentified Gunmen
In March, at least six Baloch citizens were killed by unidentified gunmen in different parts of Balochistan, while ten others were injured. These incidents occurred despite Balochistan being one of Iran’s most militarized provinces. Every month, dozens of people in the region fall victim to armed attacks, yet the perpetrators are rarely identified or arrested, raising serious concerns among residents and human rights activists.
Four Baloch Citizens Killed by Iranian Security Forces
On March 10, 2025, Iranian border forces opened fire on a fishing boat near the village of Salakh, close to Qeshm city. The boat’s captain, a Baloch citizen, was killed by gunfire.
Additionally, Gholam Shahriari, another Baloch citizen, was fatally shot by Iranian police in Haidarabad village, Zabol. He succumbed to his injuries the following day at Amir al-Momenin Hospital.
On the night of March 16, 2025, military and plainclothes forces surrounded a residence in Minab and opened fire, resulting in the death of one person whose identity remains unknown.
Furthermore, Abdolhadi Shahli Bar, a Baloch fuel transporter, was killed by security forces.
At Least 57 Baloch Citizens Arrested by Iranian Security Forces in March 2025
In March 2025, at least 37 Baloch citizens were arrested by Iranian security forces across different regions, with an additional 20 people detained in Zahedan. According to the families of the detainees, authorities cited “lack of identification documents” as the reason for their arrests.
Human rights groups have previously reported that thousands of Baloch citizens are systematically deprived of identity documents, which prevents them from accessing education, employment, and healthcare services.
The identities of some of the detainees, in addition to the 20 from Zahedan, are as follows:
- Hashem and Saeed Kurd Tomandani (father and son)
- An undocumented Baloch citizen, later deported
- Esmail Afshin Afshar Kurd Tomandani (father) and his two children
- Two Baloch laborers in Qeshm
- Mehrdad Rasouli (25, from Rask)
- Hesman Boladai (18, from Rask)
- Safiollah Esmailzehi (19, from Zahedan)
- Karimbakhsh Irandoust (from Sarbaz)
- Abdullah Nabatzehi
- Alam Azizi (from Qasr-e Qand)
- Farooq Shahbakhsh
- Anvar Darpeh
- Ali Kurd
- Javid Kadkhodai
- Shoaib Aghan (19)
- Omran Aghan (21)
- Baqer Aghan (25)
- Farhad Aghan
Reports indicate that these arrests were conducted without legal justification, accompanied by pressure on the detainees’ families.
Twelve Baloch Fuel Transporters (Soktbar) Killed and Fourteen Injured in March 2025
In March 2025, at least 12 Baloch fuel transporters lost their lives, while 14 others were injured in various incidents. These fatalities highlight the extreme dangers and insecure conditions of fuel transporters in the border regions of Balochistan.
According to the Balochistan Human Rights Group’s annual report, from early 2024 to the end of the year, at least 479 fuel transporters were killed or injured in different incidents. Among them, 253 died, and 226 were wounded.
Of these, 136 were killed or injured due to shootings, chases, and beatings by military forces ,including 63 fatalities and 75 injuries .Two of these shootings were carried out by Pakistani military forces.
Additionally, three fuel transporters were killed and seven injured in attacks by unidentified gunmen and armed robbers. Furthermore, two fuel transporters drowned while working, and three died in fires , with seven others suffering burns,
Suspicious Deaths of Two Baloch Prisoners
- Suspicious Death of a Baloch Prisoner in Chabahar Prison
A Baloch prisoner, Mehrdad Nabatzehi died under suspicious circumstances in Chabahar prison. Authorities claimed he committed suicide, but his family and fellow inmates have rejected this and demanded access to surveillance footage and a transparent investigation. - Baloch Prisoner Dies in Shiraz’s Adelabad Prison Due to Medical Neglect
Kareem Rigi ,a Baloch prisoner in Shiraz’s Adelabad Prison, died of cardiac arrest after authorities failed to provide timely medical care.
Increased Repression of Baloch Activists; Arrests by Pakistani Security Forces
Pakistani security forces have escalated crackdowns on Baloch activists, arresting several prominent figures.
- On March 29, 2025, Sabghatullah Shah Jee a leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee ,was detained in Quetta.
On March 24, 2025 , Sammi din Baloch a human rights activist, was arrested in Karachi.
On March 22, 2025 ,Dr. Mahrang Baloch, founder of (BYC) was arrested following a violent crackdown on protesters in Quetta.
Human rights organizations have called for transparency and an end to the repression of activists in Balochistan.
