Execution of a Baloch Prisoner in Kerman Central Prison
​According to the Balochistan Human Rights Group, on the morning of Monday, October 12, 2026, the death sentence of at least one Baloch prisoner, who had previously been sentenced to death on drug-related charges, was executed in Kerman Central Prison.
​The identity of this Baloch prisoner has been verified by Resanak as “Amin Khajeh-Nezami,” 33 years old, son of Mehdi, married, father of three children, and a resident of Rigan County.
​Amin was arrested in 2022 on drug-related charges in Kerman County and was subsequently sentenced to death by the Islamic Revolutionary Court of that city. His death sentence was carried out early this morning in Kerman Central Prison.
​According to data collected throughout 2025, at least 137 executions of Baloch prisoners were recorded across 27 different prisons in Iran, with Zahedan Prison recording the highest number of executions at 34 cases. Among these, 94 individuals (approximately 68.6%) were executed on drug-related charges, 36 (approximately 26.3%) on murder charges, 4 (approximately 2.9%) on political and ideological charges, 2 (approximately 1.5%) on rape charges, and 1 (approximately 0.7%) on unspecified charges.

Execution of a Baloch Prisoner on Political Charges

According to the Balochistan Human Rights Group (BHRG), on Monday, 12 October 2026, state media reported the execution of Omar Dorostaran, a Baloch man arrested in April 2024. Iranian authorities claimed that he was an armed member of the Jaish al-Adl group and had played a role in supporting the group’s operations. However, previous reports concerning his arrest and the denial of his presence at one of the clashes cited by state media had raised questions about his case.

The identity of the Baloch man, Omar Dorostaran, son of Abdolghader, aged 25 at the time of his arrest, unmarried and from the village of Cheraghan in Rask County, had been verified by Rasank. He was a former student at the Qasemi religious school in Rask and a student of Molavi Abdolghaffar Naqshbandi. At the time of his arrest, he was continuing his studies at a religious school in the city of Pishin.

On the evening of Monday, 8 April 2024, after the Isha prayer, he was arrested by plainclothes agents of the Intelligence Department in Rask city. The agents reportedly provided neither a judicial warrant nor an explanation for his arrest before transferring him to an undisclosed location. Forty days after his arrest, his family and relatives remained unaware of his whereabouts and condition. Their inquiries also went unanswered by the authorities.

A report published in May 2024 stated that some state media outlets had published a photograph of Omar Dorostaran and linked his arrest to a clash between armed Jaish al-Adl members and military forces in Sib and Suran County. However, he had been arrested three days before the reported clash took place. Rasank’s sources emphasised at the time that Omar had not been present in Sib and Suran County on the day of the incident. Some state media outlets had also described him as a foreign national.

According to claims made by Iranian authorities alongside the announcement of his execution, Omar Dorostaran had played a role in supporting attacks on the police headquarters in Rask County, the local Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) headquarters, the Parud military base, and attacks on military installations in Chabahar County in April 2024. However, the published information provided no clear details of the evidence allegedly substantiating these accusations or how they were linked to Omar’s case.

Following the announcement of this Baloch man’s execution, no independently verified information remains available regarding the timing and details of his trial, the evidence presented against him, his access to legal counsel, his ability to mount an effective defence, or whether his family was informed about the judicial proceedings and the implementation of the sentence.

Clarification of these matters is essential to assessing whether the right to a fair trial was respected and to ensuring accountability for the proceedings that led to the imposition and execution of the death sentence.

Execution of Habibollah Ghanbarzehi-Farjad, a Baloch Prisoner, in Kerman Prison

According to the Balochistan Human Rights Group (BHRG), the death sentence of Habibollah Ghanbarzehi-Farjad, a Baloch prisoner sentenced to death in a drug-related case, was carried out at dawn on Monday, 12 October 2026, in Kerman Prison. His family had visited him for the last time the previous day, following his transfer to solitary confinement.

The identity of the Baloch prisoner, Habibollah Ghanbarzehi-Farjad, 38, son of Allahdad, married and a father, originally from Zahedan, has been confirmed by Haalvsh.

According to reports received, Habibollah was arrested in Kerman in November 2023 on drug-related charges while working as a driver. He was subsequently sentenced to death. According to informed sources, the drugs discovered in the case did not belong to him.

His execution took place despite concerns expressed the previous day by Mai Sato, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, regarding reports that his execution was imminent. She stated that she was closely following his case. She also described it as similar to other drug-related death penalty cases documented as part of her mandate.

Before the execution, Habibollah’s mother and sister had also expressed concern over his imminent execution and called for the sentence to be halted. Habibollah was the family’s only son and its sole breadwinner. His execution leaves his family without its main provider and exposes them to further financial and social hardship.

The execution of this Baloch prisoner, despite concerns raised by the UN Special Rapporteur and his family’s appeal for a halt to the sentence, once again draws attention to the situation of prisoners sentenced to death in drug-related cases and the need to ensure fair trial standards.

Baloch Prisoner Transferred to Solitary Confinement at Kerman Prison Amid Imminent Execution

According to the Balochistan Human Rights Group (BHRG), on Sunday, 11 October 2026, a Baloch prisoner named Habibullah Qanbarzehi Farjad, who was previously sentenced to death on drug-related charges, was transferred to solitary confinement at Kerman Prison ahead of the scheduled implementation of his death sentence.

The prisoner has been identified as Habibullah Qanbarzehi Farjad, 38, son of Allahdad. He is married, has children, and is from Zahedan.

According to sources cited by BHRG, Habibullah was arrested in Kerman in November 2023 while driving a vehicle on drug-related charges. The sources stated that although the drugs discovered did not belong to him, the judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran sentenced him to death.

The sources added that Kerman Prison officials contacted the prisoner’s family and asked them to come to the prison by 10 p.m. tonight for a final visit. This has heightened concerns that his execution may be imminent.

Habibullah Qanbarzehi Farjad is the only son in his family and its breadwinner. His execution could leave his family facing serious financial and social hardship.

Baloch Civilian Killed by Security Forces’ Gunfire in Cheshmeh Ziyarat, Zahedan

According to the Balochistan Human Rights Group (BHRG), on Friday, 9 October 2026, Abdullah Ghanbarzehi, a Baloch civilian and father of two, was killed by security forces’ gunfire in the Cheshmeh Ziyarat area of Zahedan County.

His identity has been confirmed as Abdullah Ghanbarzehi, son of Jomma, from the Domag area of Zahedan.

According to information received, at around 1:30 p.m., Abdullah Ghanbarzehi was travelling from Domag towards Zahedan to buy supplies. According to his relatives, he had no connection to the clashes in the area and was unarmed and simply passing through. Following clashes and an explosion along the route, security forces opened fire on him. He died from his gunshot wounds.

State media subsequently accused him of involvement in a roadside bombing that killed two military personnel. His relatives have strongly rejected these allegations.

The killing of Abdullah Ghanbarzehi, who, according to available information, was simply passing through the area, has once again raised concerns about the protection of civilians and the need to safeguard their lives during security operations.

Protecting civilian lives, adhering to the principles governing the use of force, and conducting independent and transparent investigations into deaths resulting from security forces’ gunfire are fundamental human rights obligations.

World Day Against the Death Penalty: The Need to End Executions and Discrimination in Iran

On the occasion of the World Day Against the Death Penalty, the Balochistan Human Rights Group (BHRG) emphasises the need to protect the right to life, end executions, and address discrimination against the Baloch nation in Iran.

According to findings documented and independently verified by BHRG, at least 35 Baloch citizens were executed in prisons across Iran during the first six months of 2026. Of these, 28 were executed on drug-related charges, four on murder charges under Iran’s qisas provisions, and three on politically motivated charges. The report also documented that at least 11 prisoners were denied a final visit with their families before their executions.

The widespread use of the death penalty in Balochistan, particularly in drug-related cases, against a backdrop of structural deprivation and discrimination against the Baloch nation, raises serious concerns about equality before the law and the right to a fair trial. Restrictions on access to information and difficulties in independently verifying cases also indicate that the actual number of executions may be higher than the documented figures.

The World Day Against the Death Penalty serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting the right to life, upholding human dignity, and ensuring justice for all. Independent documentation of executions and international attention to the situation of the Baloch nation play an important role in raising awareness and promoting accountability for human rights violations.

Balochistan Human Rights Group (BHRG)

Execution of 11 Baloch Citizens

In September 2026, at least 11 Baloch citizens were executed in prisons across Iran. According to reports published by the Balochistan Human Rights Group, their names and the locations and dates of their executions are as follows:

• Sina Alipour — Zahedan Central Prison — 1 September
• Asghar Pishahang — Zahedan Central Prison — 13 September
• Yousof Abil — Jiroft Prison — 13 September
• Mohammad Mousazahi — Iranshahr Prison — 13 September
• Hashem Rakhshani — Zabol Prison — 13 September
• Amanollah Nazar Khani — Zabol Prison — 13 September
• Mohammad Yousof Issa-Zehi (Rigi) — Isfahan Central Prison — 9 September
• Abdolghani Salarzehi — Isfahan Central Prison — 28 September

A significant proportion of these executions were carried out in cases related to drugs. In some cases, prisoners had denied the charges brought against them and raised objections to the judicial proceedings before their executions.

Baloch Citizens Killed in Shootings by Iranian Military and Security Forces

During September, at least four Baloch citizens were killed as a result of shootings or operations by Iranian military and security forces.

Isa Hot-Jalali (Sabeghi), approximately 23 years old, was killed on 19 September in Pang village, Jazmourian County, following a shooting by IRGC and Intelligence forces.

Yasin Narouei, approximately 24 years old, was killed during a confrontation between military and security forces and people inside a house in Hasarouieh, Zahedan. Another citizen who was a guest at the house was also killed during the incident.

Obaid Zardkohi, approximately 28 years old, was shot and killed during a raid by security forces on his home in Sarkehuran village, Iranshahr, following a confrontation that lasted approximately 20 minutes.

Mehdi Sanchouli, 50, a fuel carrier, was also killed after being shot by military forces near a checkpoint on the Qayen road in South Khorasan.

In another deeply concerning incident, Mohammad Amin Dehqan, a four-year-old Baloch child, was shot in the head and killed on 24 September in the Jihadabad area of Saravan after military and security forces opened fire on a Saipa pickup truck carrying drinking water. His father, Eshaq Dehqan, was also seriously injured in the shooting.

Four Years Since Zahedan Bloody Friday

In September, coinciding with the fourth anniversary of Zahedan Bloody Friday, the Balochistan Human Rights Group published a report on the continued pursuit of justice by the families of the victims.

On 30 September 2022, Iranian military and security forces opened fire on citizens and worshippers around the Makki Grand Mosque in Zahedan. According to BHRG documentation, more than 100 Baloch citizens were killed and more than 300 were injured.

Four years after the incident, the families of the victims continue to demand truth, the identification of those responsible and those who ordered the violence, independent investigations, and justice.

Sentencing of Four Baloch Citizens in Connection with the 2022 Protests

Four Baloch citizens — Hamidreza Kohkan, Mohammad Khorut Dinmohammadi, Ahmadali Kohkan and Khaled Kashani — who were arrested during the nationwide protests in 2022, were sentenced by Branch 103 of the Criminal Court Two in Zahedan to a combined 17 years and one day in prison.

Hamidreza Kohkan, Ahmadali Kohkan and Mohammad Khorut Dinmohammadi were each sentenced to five years in prison, while Khaled Kashani was sentenced to two years and one day, suspended for three years.

Mohammad Khorut Dinmohammadi was only 16 years old when he was arrested. Ahmadali Kohkan had previously been seriously injured after being struck by a live bullet during Zahedan Bloody Friday.

Nasimeh Eslamzahi: 25-Year Prison Sentence

Nasimeh Eslamzahi, a Baloch Sunni woman and prisoner held in Evin Prison, was sentenced to 25 years in prison by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati.

She denied the charge of “aiding in the crime of baghy” and, according to the information published, stated that she was not a member of any group and had not cooperated with any group.

Eslamzahi was arrested in September 2023 and gave birth to her second child while in detention at Evin Prison.

Demolition of Homes and Pressure on Baloch Families

Several cases involving the demolition of Baloch citizens’ homes in Chabahar and Iranshahr were reported during September.

In Komb village, Chabahar, the Housing Foundation, accompanied by military forces, demolished several homes belonging to families who, according to residents, had lived in the area for approximately 20 to 25 years. Residents reported threats, the use of electric tasers, and violent treatment of men and women present at the scene.

In Nokabad village, Chabahar, part of a Baloch family’s home was also demolished in the early hours of the morning by the Housing Foundation and the Land Affairs authorities. The homeowner and his son were reportedly beaten.

In Iranshahr, a residential property on Ferdowsi Street was demolished by the municipality without prior notice, and some of the family’s belongings were destroyed under the rubble.

Nasser Boladai: Shared Human Rights Principles and Joint Action

On 27 September, Nasser Boladai, Secretary-General of the Balochistan People’s Party, spoke at the conference “The Human Rights Crisis in Iran: From Common Principles to Joint Action” in Oslo, Norway, where he stressed the need for political groups to cooperate on the basis of shared human rights principles.

Boladai said that agreement on shared human rights principles should lead to concrete and practical action, and that cooperation among political groups should not be limited to meetings, dialogue and media statements.

Referring to the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement and protests in Balochistan, he also stressed the importance of individual and collective rights, equality and addressing discrimination, and called on political groups to focus on the immediate demands of the public.

Boladai also stated that the Balochistan People’s Party is prepared to cooperate with other groups on human rights, economic issues, the environment and repression in Iran.

Nasser Boladai and Transnational Repression

As part of his human rights activities, Boladai also spoke at a side event of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on transnational repression by the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Drawing on his own experience, he spoke about surveillance, intimidation, threats, creating distrust, pressure on families, and threats against opponents and activists outside Iran. He stressed that transnational repression is not limited to physical threats and can also be pursued by creating fear and distrust within migrant communities.

Masoud Raeisi: Repression and Discrimination Have Contributed to Resistance in Balochistan

Masoud Raeisi, Executive Director of the Balochistan Human Rights Group, spoke in an interview with Voice of America about the human rights situation of the Baloch people and the factors behind the emergence of resistance in Balochistan.

Raeisi identified arrests, imprisonment, executions, discrimination and the repression of protesters as among the factors that, according to him, have contributed to the emergence of resistance in Balochistan. He also discussed the connection of some individuals with armed groups and the impact of experiences of repression and human rights violations on Baloch families.

Economic Pressure and Rising Inflation

Another report published in September focused on the economic situation of people in Balochistan. According to figures presented by the Statistical Center of Iran, annual inflation had reached 73.6 percent, while point-to-point inflation stood at 89.8 percent. Annual inflation for food, beverages and tobacco was reported at 108.8 percent.

Rising prices of food and essential goods, combined with poverty, unemployment, limited employment opportunities and weak economic infrastructure in Balochistan, have placed additional pressure on low-income households.

Morad Mohammad Qanbarzehi: Eight Years in an Omani Prison After Completing His Sentence

Morad Mohammad Qanbarzehi, a Baloch citizen from Nokabad, Iranshahr, remains imprisoned in Oman despite having completed his three-year sentence.

He has been imprisoned for approximately eight years. Due to the lack of identity documents and the absence of a mechanism to verify his identity and secure his acceptance by Iran, he has been unable to return to the country after completing his sentence.

His family has repeatedly followed up with various authorities in Iran over the years to obtain his birth certificate and identity documents, but these efforts have so far produced no result.

Execution of At Least One Baloch Prisoner Carried Out at Isfahan Central Prison
According to the Balochistan Human Rights Group (BHRG), at dawn today, Monday, September 28, 2026, the execution sentence of at least one Baloch prisoner, who had previously been sentenced to death on drug-related charges, was carried out at Isfahan Central Prison.
The identity of the Baloch prisoner has been reported as Abdolghani Salarzehi, approximately 35 years old, married, a father of five, and a native of Zahedan.
According to the report, Abdolghani was arrested in 2019 in Zahedan on drug-related charges and subsequently transferred to Isfahan. He was sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court in Isfahan. Abdolghani was reportedly pursued and arrested solely based on another individual’s statements, while no drugs were found in his possession. He had strongly denied the charges against him in court.
According to data collected throughout 2025, at least 137 executions of Baloch prisoners were recorded in 27 different prisons across Iran. Zahedan Prison recorded the highest number, with 34 executions.
Of these, 94 people (approximately 68.6%) were executed on drug-related charges, 36 people (approximately 26.3%) on murder charges, 4 people (approximately 2.9%) on political or ideological charges, 2 people (approximately 1.5%) on rape charges, and 1 person (approximately 0.7%) on an unspecified charge.

Four Years After Zahedan Bloody Friday: The Pursuit of Justice Continues

Four years have passed since the killing of Baloch civilians during Zahedan Bloody Friday, which took place on 30 September 2022, corresponding to 8 Mehr 1401, in Zahedan. The incident became one of the deadliest examples of the repression of Baloch civilians in recent years.

On that day, following Friday prayers, Baloch worshippers gathered peacefully near Makki Mosque in Zahedan to protest allegations that Ebrahim Kuchakzai, the police commander of Chabahar, had raped a 15-year-old Baloch girl. In response, security forces opened fire on the gathering and used live ammunition.

More than 100 civilians were killed and more than 300 others were injured during the crackdown. A significant number of the victims were worshippers, young people and other civilians who were present around Makki Mosque and the surrounding streets.

Zahedan Bloody Friday was not simply another violent episode during the 2022 protests. It represented serious violations of the right to life, the right to peaceful assembly, and the right of civilians to security and equal protection under the law.

Four years after the massacre, the families of those killed continue to seek truth and justice. Many have yet to receive clear answers regarding the use of live ammunition against civilians and the responsibility of those who carried out and ordered the crackdown.

From a human rights perspective, the families’ right to know the truth, to identify those responsible, to have the killings independently investigated, and to receive effective remedy cannot be disregarded.

Remembering Zahedan Bloody Friday means remembering the names and lives of more than 100 civilians who lost their lives, as well as the hundreds who were injured and continue to live with the consequences of the crackdown.

Four years have passed, but the pursuit of justice by the victims’ families continues.

Balochistan Human Rights Group (BHRG)
September 2026

Nasser Boladai: Political Forces Should Focus on Shared Human Rights Principles and Joint Action
According to the Balochistan Human Rights Group (BHRG), on Saturday, September 26, 2026, the conference “Human Rights Crisis in Iran: From Shared Principles to Joint Action,” organised by Iran Human Rights, was held in Oslo, the capital of Norway, with the participation of representatives of political groups and human rights activists. Nasser Boladai, Secretary-General of the Balochistan People’s Party, emphasised the need for political forces to focus on shared human rights principles and to translate these agreements into concrete and practical actions.
Referring to the signing of shared human rights principles by a number of political groups, Boladai described the initiative as a step towards cooperation among different political forces. He said political parties can use human rights as a common basis for cooperation instead of focusing solely on their individual party programmes. He stressed that such cooperation should not be limited to conferences, discussions, and media statements.
Referring to the anniversary of the killing of Jina Mahsa Amini and “Bloody Friday in Zahedan,” the Balochistan People’s Party representative said discrimination and repression in Iran take different forms, and that addressing human rights must encompass both individual and collective rights. He said gender-based or national discrimination cannot be addressed simply by emphasising the general concept of human beings, because individuals and groups face specific forms of discrimination based on their gender, national identity, and other characteristics.
Boladai described the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement and the protests in Balochistan as among the movements opposing discrimination and dictatorship. He said freedom and equality should take priority over the type of political system. He also stressed that political forces should, at certain times, set aside their party programmes and interests and focus on the immediate demands of the people.
He said: “Based on a set of shared principles, we must take a set of joint actions,” adding that practical measures should be identified according to existing capacities so that the outcomes of such conferences can be seen in practice and do not fade into oblivion over time. Boladai also said: “For now, I think this is a time when we should put our political programmes in the freezer for a while.”
The Secretary-General of the Balochistan People’s Party stated that the party is ready to cooperate with other political forces on human rights issues, as well as on matters including economic problems, environmental concerns, and repression in Iran. He concluded by expressing hope that Iran’s future constitution would be drafted with the participation of human rights organisations and based on human rights principles, and that the basis for pride would be having an appropriate “social contract.”