Baloch Activists’ Campaign Reports Continuation of Protest Gatherings in Sistan and Baluchestan Cities

One week after the killing of fuel traders in Saravan and following the subsequent start of strikes and protests in many cities of Sistan and Baluchestan, the “Baloch Activists’ Campaign” reported the continuation of protest gatherings in the cities of Saravan, Suran, Zahedan, Khash, and Iranshahr last night and clashes between citizens and security forces.

The Baloch Activists’ Campaign, while announcing news of continued tensions in a number of cities in Sistan and Baluchestan, has published videos in which protesters set fire to the Ashar district administrative building in Sarbaaz city and closed the Panj Shir-Mirjaveh road.

Since the beginning of last week and coinciding with the start of protests, mobile internet has been cut off in many areas of Sistan and Baluchestan province. Images published on social media also indicate the widespread presence of security forces and special units in many cities of this province.

Maulavi Abdulhamid, the Sunni Friday prayer imam of Zahedan, has called for a thorough, impartial, and fair investigation into the shooting of fuel traders and the legal punishment of the perpetrators and commanders.

The Persian account of the U.S. State Department on Twitter published the reaction of this institution, which while expressing deep concern about internet shutdowns and state violence against fuel traders and protesters, called on the Islamic Republic of Iran to uphold its commitments regarding human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Amnesty International and four other human rights organizations have requested that the Islamic Republic refrain from using internet shutdowns as a tool to conceal concerning and serious human rights violations and international crimes, including extrajudicial killings, similar to what happened during the November 2019 and December 2017 protests.

Source: Voice of America