CONDEMN ATROCITIES OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN IN BALOCHISTAN

The Balochistan province in Iran is the largest but the least developed and the most suppressed province. The Baloch people are suffering from high degree of illiteracy, poor health services, high mortality rate, lack of social security and a primitive economic infrastructure. The extensive discrimination of the Baloch people in political, economical, cultural, religious, educational and social aspects has led to a popular struggle for the right of self-determination, federalism and democracy. The responses of the IRI have so far been suppression of protests, mass arrests, torture, kidnapping of activists, forced confessions on TV and establishment of an undeclared state of martial law in the province.

The geo-political division of the Baloch people in three provinces in the three countries Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan has inhibited them in interacting with each other. In order to further separate Baloch people from each other the Iranian regime has started building a wall, laying down land mines and digging in the border areas. This is a clear violation of the Baloch people’s right to interact with each other across the borders of the three countries.

The number of executions in 2006 exceeded 265 persons whereas this year over 300 innocent Baloch have arbitrarily been captured and executed. The regime carries out these inhuman executions in public places with full publicity to terrorize the population. Last month the regime announced that 700 Baloch detainees are in the execution queue. Among these detainees is the 17 years old boy namely Saeed Kambarzahi. Saeed and 7 other arrestees were brought to the local TV and allegedly confessed their involvement in an armed uprising against the regime in the province of Sistan and Balochistan!! Forced confessions under harsh tortures and fabricated allegations are rule rather then exception in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Amnesty International has also appealed to the IRI leaders to save the lives of these innocent prisoners.

 The terror and fear policy of the regime even can not tolerate cultural activities of Baloch intellectuals. Recently, a group of five Baloch intellectuals led by Mr. Yaqoob Mehrnehad attempted to discuss cultural and ethnic discrimination of Baloch people with the authorities of the province. Instead, the authorities ordered their arrest by security forces. These intellectuals are now detained in unknown prisons without informing their families. We are concerned about these intellectuals and believe that they are in real danger of facing fabricated accusations, torture and finally forced confessions and appearance on TV.

Recently, the regime has commenced suppression of women. Women are regularly being beaten and offended in public places in order to force them to wear so-called proper Islamic clothing. In our view this is suppression of women and violation of their right to choose their own clothing.

On the occasion of Iran’s foreign ministry, Mr. Manouchehr Mottaki’s visit to Norway, we would like:

1. That Mr. Jonas Gahr Støre discusses violation of the human rights in Balochistan and likewise in whole Iran, with Mr. Mottaki.

2. That Norway condemns mass arrests, tortures, forced TV confessions and execution of innocent people of Balochistan in Iran.

3. That Norway demands release of all Baloch political prisoners such as Mr. Saeed Kambarzehi, Mr. Mehrnehad and all other arrestees.

4. That Norway discusses the latest suppression of women’s right in Balochistan and Iran.

We are confident that efforts made by a democratic country like Norway will contribute in saving the lives of several hundred political prisoners in Balochistan and Iran.

Balochistan National Movement (Zrombesh)- Norway Committee