Marginalization of the Baloch in Iran
- Genocide Watch
- 11 minutes ago
- 1 min read
By Michał Jagielski
Sistan and Balochistan Province has been the victim of persistent attempts by the Iranian regime to oppress the Baloch and limit their capacity for mobilization. The events and policies described in this report are not isolated instances of ethnic persecution, but rather a strategy created to eradicate the Baloch.
Tehran frames its policies as a response to the perceived terrorist threat, the subsequent instability, and severe underdevelopment, yet their true nature is vastly different.
Militarization has normalized violence at security checkpoints, justified extreme surveillance, and allowed security forces to engage in extrajudicial killings and arrests, subsequently introducing insecurity into the province’s day-to-day life. Development projects, such as the Makran Development Plan, are often presented as opportunities, but they actually facilitate social engineering and resource exploitation. Religious discrimination, cultural suppression, and administrative restructuring aim to destroy the cultural identity and the communities of the Baloch. Furthermore, these policies deny the Baloch the opportunity to participate in the country's political, social, and economic life.
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