Baloch activists' campaign announces continuation of protest rallies in cities of Sistan and Baluchestan

A week after the massacre of fuel workers in Saravan and the subsequent start of strikes and protests in many cities of Sistan and Baluchestan, the "Baloch Activists Campaign" reported the continuation of protest rallies in the cities of Saravan, Soran, Zahedan, Khash, and Iranshahr last night, and clashes between citizens and security forces.

The Baloch activists' campaign, while announcing the continuation of tensions in a number of cities in Sistan and Baluchestan, has published videos in which protesters set fire to the Ashar district office building in Sarbaz city and closed the Panjshir-Mirjaveh road.

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

Mawlavi Abdul Hamid, the Sunni Friday prayer imam of Zahedan, has called for a thorough, impartial, and fair investigation into the shooting of fuel tankers and for the legal punishment of the perpetrators and those in charge.

The US State Department's Persian Twitter account published the institution's response, expressing deep concern about the internet shutdown and government violence against fuel consumers and protesters, and calling on the Islamic Republic of Iran to adhere to its commitments to human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Amnesty International and four other human rights organizations have called on the Islamic Republic not to use internet shutdowns as a tool to cover up alarming and serious human rights violations and international crimes, including extrajudicial killings, similar to what occurred during the November 2019 and January 2017 protests.

Source: Voice of America