Violent Arrest of Ten Baloch Citizens Following Peaceful Protests in Zahedan; Four Released After 24 Hours
On Friday, January 2, 2026, concurrent with peaceful protests by Baloch citizens in Zahedan following Friday prayers, plainclothes security forces, with a heavy presence across the city, violently arrested several citizens without presenting any judicial warrant. These arrests took place in the streets of Mazari, Khayyam, and Madani while the individuals were returning to their homes. The detainees were beaten and transferred to unknown locations, and as of the time of this report, there is no precise information about the status and exact whereabouts of most of them.
The identities of the ten arrested Baloch citizens are as follows:
- Kian Salarnejad, 24 years old, son of Aziz, student of Industrial and Mining Engineering at Balochistan University in Zahedan
- Farzad Kubdani, 27 years old, son of Abdul Sattar
- Nasser Kubdani, 28 years old, son of Nader
- Mohsen Kubdani, 32 years old
- Jaber Berichi, 19 years old, son of Mohammad Reza
- Zubair Barahoui
- Hanif Barahoui
- Omar Gamshadzehi
- Ehsan Naroui
- Abdul Rahman Naroui
All are residents of Zahedan.
The first three individuals were stopped by plainclothes forces on Mazari 31 Street after Friday prayers while returning from the mosque, beaten, and arrested. Jaber Berichi was also arrested hours after the protests ended on Khayyam Street, and the other five were detained under similar circumstances on Madani Street through violent actions by security agents and transferred to an unknown location.
On Saturday, January 3, 2026, at least four of the detained citizens—Jaber Berichi (19 years old), Farzad Kubdani (27 years old), Nasser Kubdani (28 years old), and Mohsen Kubdani (32 years old)—were released from a security detention facility after approximately 24 hours.
These arbitrary and violent arrests occurred while Baloch citizens in Zahedan were peacefully protesting in solidarity with protesters in other parts of the country, in response to economic pressures, livelihood issues, and political and social demands. The continued lack of information about the fate and whereabouts of the remaining six citizens has heightened the severe concerns of families and the local community.
These actions constitute a clear violation of fundamental human rights, including the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and personal security (Articles 19, 21, and 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights), underscoring the urgent need to immediately halt arbitrary arrests and provide transparent information about the status of the detainees.
