At Least 20 Homes Demolished in Chahbahar’s Janglok Neighborhood; Others at Risk of Demolition

At Least 20 Homes Demolished in Chahbahar’s Janglok Neighborhood; Others at Risk of Demolition
The Balochistan Human Rights Group reported that demolition operations began yesterday in Janglok, an old neighborhood in Chahbahar, southeastern Iran. According to the report, forces affiliated with the Housing Foundation, working with municipal authorities and using bulldozers and trucks, have demolished homes belonging to Baloch residents. At least 20 of around 50 homes targeted in the current phase have reportedly already been demolished, while the remaining homes are at risk of demolition in the coming days.
Janglok is one of Chahbahar’s long-established neighborhoods, where hundreds of Baloch families have lived for decades. Residents have faced repeated pressure to relocate in recent years. In May 2020, a major fire in the neighborhood destroyed the homes and belongings of hundreds of families. The cause of the fire was never officially established.
Authorities have proposed relocating Janglok residents to newly built housing in other parts of Chahbahar, including a complex known locally as the “1,000-Unit Project” and housing in eastern Moradabad. Residents, however, have raised concerns about the limited number of available homes, the suitability of some of the new units, and reported monthly rent demands of around 50 million rials.
Officials say around 335 families currently live in Janglok, while the number of available housing units is limited. It remains unclear what will happen to families who are not included in the current relocation process.
The simultaneous demolition of homes and implementation of the relocation plan, without clearly determining the status of all affected families, has raised concerns about housing security, property rights, and future living costs. Residents are calling for the demolitions to be suspended until every affected family has a clear housing arrangement, and for any relocation to be carried out transparently, with residents’ participation and guarantees of adequate and secure housing.