According to the Balochistan Human Rights Group, on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, two Baloch teenage citizens were arrested by security forces in the counties of Sarbaz and Chabahar. Additionally, about one month earlier, another citizen had been arrested by security forces and transferred to an unknown location. Despite follow-ups by their families, no clear information has been provided so far.The identities of these three Baloch citizens have been reported as:Abdulrahman Raisi, 17, son of Molavi Doost Mohammad Raisi, the Friday prayer leader of NasirabadAli Talatf, 17Both are from the village of Nasirabad in Sarbaz CountyHafiz Yasin Taj, 30, from Aliabad village in Sarbaz CountyAccording to the report, Abdulrahman and Ali, who were arrested on April 8 in the city of Chabahar by security forces, were transferred to Zahedan on April 18 after 10 days of detention in Chabahar.Hafiz Yasin Taj, who had been arrested about a month earlier in Sarbaz County, has been transferred to Ward 9 of Zahedan Central Prison. He is the brother of Molavi Abdulqayyum Taj, a Sunni writer, who has previously been repeatedly summoned and interrogated by security agencies.There is still no information available regarding the arresting authority, their exact place of detention, or the charges brought against these three Baloch citizens.According to collected data, at least 978 people were arrested in Balochistan during 2025. Among them, 394 individuals lacked identity documents or birth certificates. Additionally, 19 cases of group arrests were recorded, where more than one person was detained at the same time, and in 12 cases, more than five individuals were arrested in a single operation.

According to the Balochistan Human Rights Group, on the evening of Wednesday, April 22, 2026, occupants of a Toyota Land Cruiser near the village of Jakigur, in Rask County, were targeted by gunfire from Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces. At least two of them were killed on the spot.
The identities of the two Baloch citizens have been confirmed as Mohammad Eslam Saeedi, approximately 31 years old, son of Musa, and Mohammad Akram Akhtari, approximately 28 years old, son of Morad Mohammad—both from the village of Darchub in the Sarkur area of Sarbaz County. Reports indicate that the vehicle was shot at without prior warning or order to stop, and the occupants were killed after being struck by multiple bullets.
State-affiliated media outlets, including Fars News Agency, had previously cited security sources claiming that an armed team in Rask County had been targeted in an operation and that several of its members were killed. They also published images of two individuals lying on the ground with their faces blurred.
According to documented data collected in 2025, direct shootings, home raids, landmine explosions, and physical assaults by military and security forces have affected at least 173 people in Balochistan. Of these, 107 lost their lives and 66 were injured. Among those killed were 3 women and 1 child, while the injured included 16 women and 4 children.

Deepening Deprivation: The Consequences of War in Sistan and Balochistan

Baluohistan Human Rights Group – On Wednesday, April 22, 2026, DW Persian, in a report published amid escalating military tensions between Iran, the United States, and Israel, examined the unequal consequences of war in Sistan and Balochistan, one of Iran’s most deprived regions. Disruptions to infrastructure, border closures, rising prices of essential goods, and restricted access to healthcare services have placed people’s lives under severe pressure.

In this context, Masoud Raeesi, Executive Director of the Balochistan Human Rights Group, stated:
“War usually imposes the greatest economic pressure on regions that already have weak economic conditions. The economies of these areas depend on local and cross-border activities, and with border closures or increased controls, many jobs are lost or disrupted. This reduces or cuts off household incomes.”
He also emphasized:
“When supply routes are disrupted, the crisis becomes more severe in remote areas. Prices of food, fuel, and essential goods rise, while people’s incomes decline, multiplying economic pressure.”

Fariba Baloch, a human rights activist and women’s rights advocate, also said:
“Even under normal conditions, people in Balochistan face widespread deprivation, and war has intensified these problems. Border closures, food shortages, and rising prices have made the situation much harder, and for those without identity documents, access to basic services has become even more difficult.”

Rahim Bandoui, a member of the central council of the Balochistan People’s Party, stated:
“The centralized governance structure in Iran over the past century has left the Baloch deprived of development infrastructure, and in times of war, this underdevelopment and the development gap become even deeper.”

The continuation of this trend, combined with a long history of structural deprivation, could lead to increased migration, the expansion of poverty, and the deepening of the cycle of underdevelopment in Sistan and Balochistan. This highlights how the centralized and security-oriented policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran have not only failed to respond to crises but, by ignoring the basic needs of the people, have contributed to growing inequality and instability in border regions.

Today, Nasser Boladai, Secretary General of the Baloch People’s Party, issued a statement in response to recent international calls urging humanitarian consideration for prisoners facing execution in Iran. He called on the global community and international leaders to adopt a broader and more consistent approach to human rights by also addressing the situation in Balochistan.
In his message, he welcomed the emphasis on the value of human life, compassion, and justice, stressing that such principles must be applied equally in all cases of human rights violations. Nasser Boladai specifically highlighted the situation of Mahrang Baloch, a prominent human rights activist and a leading voice of peaceful advocacy, who remains in detention.
He noted that Mahrang Baloch, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, has become an internationally recognized advocate for human dignity and the rights of the people of Balochistan. He called for urgent international attention to her case, as well as to other detained members of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee.
Boladai further emphasized that the continued detention of civil and human rights activists not only raises serious international concerns but also poses a significant obstacle to dialogue, peace, and long-term stability in the region. He urged the Pakistani authorities to uphold humanitarian principles and fundamental rights by ensuring the release of these activists and by adopting dialogue and reconciliation instead of security-driven approaches.
The statement concludes by underscoring that support for human rights, justice, and peace must not be confined to any single geography, but should be upheld as universal values, equally respected and protected for all people, everywhere.

URGENT | Global Call to Action by 90 Activist Networks, Political Parties, Organizations, and Civil Society Institutions

Join Global Actions to Stop Executions and Free Political Prisoners in Iran

April 11, 2026

We, the undersigned, call on all Iranians living abroad, activists, associations and institutions, human rights defenders, as well as all political parties and groups, to unite and take action to realize the urgent demands of the people of Iran.

Our urgent demands:

• Immediate halt to all executions and abolition of the death penalty
• Immediate release of all detainees and political prisoners
• Immediate access to a free and open internet for the people of Iran

We propose that between April 11 and April 26, 2026, actions such as sit-ins, demonstrations, street performances, meetings with members of parliaments, governments, political parties, labor unions, progressive organizations, and media outlets—and any other effective initiatives—be organized to bring the voice of the people of Iran to the global community.

Now is the time for solidarity and action.
Join this movement to stop executions, free political prisoners, and secure free access to the internet.

Secretariat of the April 2026 Call

List of Signatories (in alphabetical order):

1. Alliance for Woman, Life, Freedom – Stockholm
2. Left Women’s Union
3. Kurdistan Women’s Union
4. Union for Welfare, Peace, Justice and Freedom of the People of Iran
5. Iran Opposition Think Tank
6. Azadaneh (Free Initiative)
7. Sustainable Women’s Independence and Equality (WISE)
8. Iranian Association for the Defense of Human Rights in Spain
9. International Association of Iranian Expert Lawyers and Political Activists Abroad
10. Association for the Democratic Project of Iranian Kurdistan
11. Association of Iranian Researchers
12. Woman, Life, Freedom Movement Association – Florence, Italy
13. Woman, Life, Freedom Association – Graz
14. Woman, Life, Freedom Association – Nuremberg
15. Woman, Life, Freedom Association – Frankfurt, Germany
16. Association of Free Iranian Women
17. Jina Association for Women’s Equality and Gender Rights
18. Mana Association – Milan, Italy
19. Association of the Injured and Justice-Seekers of the Jina Uprising
20. Coalition for Minority Rights
21. Independent Coalition for a Free Iran (IAFI)
22. Free Iran – Switzerland
23. Iran Protest – Malmö
24. Iran Protest – Helsingborg
25. Equality for All
26. Sattar Beheshti Foundation
27. Kian Foundation
28. Iranian-Canadian Physicians Supporting Human Rights
29. Women’s Revolution Organization
30. Activists for the Path of Freedom in Iran
31. Coalition Front for the Salvation of Iran (JANA)
32. Azerbaijan Human Rights Society (ARK)
33. Mothers of Laleh Park Movement – Fresno
34. Iranian Teachers’ Trade Challenge (Union Movement)
35. Dutch Left Party
36. Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK)
37. Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran
38. Christian Democratic Party of Iran
39. Communist Party of Iran
40. Worker-Communist Party of Iran
41. Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan
42. Kurdistan Justice Seekers
43. Damavand
44. Life Watch: Network of Iranian Human Rights Therapists
45. Royesh (Growth Initiative)
46. Zamin: Inclusive Therapeutic Empowerment
47. Woman, Life, Freedom – Munich
48. Communist Youth Organization
49. Women’s Rights Organization
50. Iran Human Rights Organization
51. Human Rights for Sport Organization
52. Hana Human Rights Organization
53. Organization of Women of Iranian Kurdistan
54. Shiwar Organization
55. Kurdistan Organization of the Communist Party of Iran
56. Fresh Life Mission Organization – Middle East
57. Hana of Rojhelat Organization
58. Iranian Solidarity – Vancouver
59. Iranian Network ASN
60. Global Network for the Freedom of Political and Ideological Prisoners in Iran
61. Global Network Channel 2
62. Woman, Life, Freedom Network – Belgium
63. Inclusive Network of Woman, Life, Freedom for Forming a Coordinating and Leadership Council (Iran Alternative)
64. Cooperation Network of the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement – Italy
65. Six Colors (Iran LGBTQ+ Network)
66. Council for Organizing Joint Actions – Netherlands
67. Regime Change Council
68. Voice of Iran
69. Global Campaign Against Executions in Iran
70. Justice Supporters Association
71. Khavaran Association
72. California Center for Culture and Arts
73. Campaign for the Freedom of Imprisoned Workers
74. Campaign for Freedom (Political and Ideological Prisoners)
75. Campaign to Stop Honor Killings
76. Campaign to Save Political Prisoners and Death Row Inmates
77. Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners in Iran
78. International Committee Against the Death Penalty
79. Committee for the Defense of Freedom and Democracy in Iran
80. Iran Human Rights Activists
81. Joint Congress of Democratic Republicans and Federal Democrats
82. Komala – Toilers of Kurdistan
83. Balochistan Human Rights Group
84. Woman, Life, Freedom Group – Gothenburg, Sweden
85. Defenders of Children’s Rights in Iran
86. Zagros Human Rights Center
87. Iran House Institution
88. Institution Against Taboos and Violence Against Women
89. Solidarity for Democracy in Iran
90. International Solidarity for Peace

Contact Phone:
+39 389 473 2871

32-Day Internet Shutdown in Iran

According to the Balochistan Human Rights Group, more than 32 days have passed since the start of the widespread shutdown of international internet access in Iran, and citizens in Sistan and Balochistan Province remain in complete digital isolation.

Based on reports from the independent organization NetBlocks, since late Bahman 1404 (February 28, 2026), access to the global internet in Iran has dropped to less than 1% of normal levels, and this nationwide blackout has now entered its fifth week. In Sistan and Balochistan Province, which has a long history of peaceful protests and severe repression, this shutdown has effectively deprived people of all tools for communication, documentation, and information sharing.

Baloch human rights activists warn that this deliberate action by the government not only violates the right to access information and freedom of expression, but also creates conditions for the broader concealment of human rights violations — including the killing of protesters, arbitrary arrests, torture, and enforced disappearances. With phone communications also heavily restricted, Baloch families are unable to contact relatives abroad, and field reports about the real situation in cities and villages are extremely difficult to transmit.

The Balochistan Human Rights Group emphasizes:
“Internet shutdowns are a tool of collective repression that silence the voices of the people of Balochistan. When there is no connection to the outside world, security forces can commit abuses without witnesses and without international documentation. This is a clear violation of international human rights, particularly the right to life, freedom of expression, and the right to peaceful protest.”

This is considered the longest recorded internet shutdown in modern Iranian history and has had devastating effects on the daily lives of people in Balochistan — from disruption of healthcare and education services to the paralysis of small businesses and the complete breakdown of independent information flow.

The Balochistan Human Rights Group calls on the international community, the United Nations, and human rights organizations to condemn this blackout as a violation of communication freedom and to apply necessary pressure to restore free and independent internet access immediately.

As long as the internet remains cut off, accurate documentation of abuses in Balochistan will be extremely difficult, but we will continue to do everything in our power to ensure that the voices of victims are heard globally.

Balochistan Human Rights Group
31 March 2026 (11 Farvardin 1405)

In subsequent international reactions, Mr. du Plessis, a member of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, stated on 17 March that the body is seeking access to the site in order to conduct an independent investigation. According to him, the United Nations possesses credible reports confirming that at least 168 individuals—predominantly schoolgirls—were killed in the attack. He further emphasized that the investigation remains at an early stage, that no discussions have yet taken place with U.S. officials, and that the mission welcomes any information that may be provided. He also stressed the independence of the fact-finding process and confirmed that a formal request for access to Iran has been submitted.

Field assessments and supplementary reports indicate that the school was located adjacent to a facility affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), identified as the “Seyyed al-Shohada” complex. Concurrently, independent evidence suggests that Iranian authorities have utilized civilian infrastructure—including schools, hospitals, and residential areas—for the deployment of military personnel and equipment. Such practices have effectively exposed civilians, particularly children, to direct risks arising from military operations.

Under the principles of international humanitarian law and relevant child protection frameworks—including the Convention on the Rights of the Child and rules governing the protection of civilians in armed conflict—the use of educational institutions and civilian spaces for military purposes, as well as the use of civilians as human shields, is strictly prohibited and constitutes a serious violation of international obligations. In this context, the placement of a military installation in proximity to a functioning school, or the use of such environments to shield military activities, gives rise to direct responsibility for the actors who made such decisions. Accordingly, given the presence of an IRGC facility adjacent to the school and the use of civilian environments for military purposes, the IRGC can be considered responsible for creating the conditions that exposed students to this deadly attack and, consequently, for the resulting humanitarian consequences.

In conclusion, this incident demonstrates that the militarization of civilian spaces and the placement of military assets near protected sites directly contribute to increased civilian casualties. Children, as one of the most vulnerable groups, have disproportionately borne the consequences. These circumstances underscore the urgent need for independent, impartial, and transparent investigations to establish accountability for all parties involved and to ensure justice and reparations for the victims.

According to informed sources, the protests began on Tuesday evening after several days of food ration cuts in the prison. A number of Baloch prisoners gathered in the prison yard and refused to return to their wards, protesting their detention conditions amid wartime circumstances and the insecurity caused by recent attacks on Chabahar. They demanded transfer to safer prisons or clarification of their release status.

Based on received reports, as the gathering continued, special forces and riot control units were deployed to the prison and, following violent confrontations with inmates, opened direct fire using live ammunition. Dozens of wounded prisoners were transferred to Imam Ali Hospital in Chabahar after being shot. Some of the injured, after being transferred, informed their families that several prisoners had lost their lives during the shooting. At least for four days, no meals had been provided to the prisoners, forcing them to rely on limited food supplies they had previously purchased.

According to informed sources, the bodies of several killed prisoners have been transferred to the morgue; however, no information has yet been released regarding their identities or the process of handing over the bodies to their families. At the time of this report, there is still no precise information about the number of casualties or the condition of other prisoners, and officials of the Islamic Republic have remained silent regarding the incident.