As the conflict escalates between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Israel, the Baloch Advocacy and Studies Center (BASC) urges the international community not to overlook the ongoing repression and deepening humanitarian crisis faced by the Baloch people under the Iranian regime.
The Baloch, an indigenous people primarily residing in Iran’s southeastern region of Balochistan, have long endured systematic cultural, economic and socio-political oppression. For decades, they have been among the most persistently persecuted people in Iran. Independent human rights organisations have documented widespread abuses in the region, including extrajudicial executions, arbitrary arrests, and a chokehold on peaceful demonstrations, acts that stand in direct violation of Iran’s obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
In recent months, the Iranian regime has escalated its repression, with Baloch men and women of all ages being executed without fair trials. Political prisoners are subjected to torture, while their families remain uninformed about their fate. Entire villages have been forcibly evacuated to clear land for state use.
According to Abdullah Aref, Deputy General Secretary and Head of the Iran Desk in the Research Department at BASC, “We are the forgotten victims of this authoritarian regime. While the world focuses on the geopolitical dimensions of the Iran-Israel conflict, the daily suffering of the Baloch population is being ignored. We live in constant fear of arbitrary detention and execution.”
The recent conflict has raised concerns of further escalation in the Baloch region. The regime may exploit the conflict as a pretext to intensify crackdowns, expand arbitrary arrests, and increase executions, all under the guise of national security. Severe communication restrictions, including internet shutdowns, are also feared, further hindering the reporting and documentation of human rights abuses.
With national resources redirected to military efforts, poverty and the denial of basic services to the Baloch population are expected to worsen. Balochistan heavily depends on food and medical supplies from central Iran and cross-border trade with Pakistan. These supply lines are now disrupted due to border closures. Already, the Baloch population across the southeastern border in Balochistan, Pakistan, is beginning to feel the pressure of shortages, made worse by a lack of government support mechanisms. If the situation persists, the region risks facing a complete blockade, leading to famine, medicine shortages, a collapsed healthcare system, and a severe humanitarian crisis.
“We are not merely witnessing a human rights crisis; this is a humanitarian emergency unfolding in real time,” said Fariba Baloch, President of BASC. “We urgently call for international attention, support, and preventive action before it is too late.”
BASC is committed to working collaboratively with international partners, institutions, and regional governments to develop solutions that prioritise human rights, regional stability, and unimpeded humanitarian access for the Baloch people. BASC calls on the international community, including the United Nations, the European Union, and international humanitarian organisations, to:
• Recommend immediate access for independent observers to assess the human rights and humanitarian conditions in Sistan and Baluchestan.
• Push for an end to executions and the release of arbitrarily detained Baloch prisoners.
• Provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the Baloch region affected by the blockade.
• Ensure the plight of indigenous Baloch and other oppressed peoples is at the centre of Middle East diplomacy and central to all discussions on regional human rights and security.