Eastern Balochistan: Baloch rally against Iran

QUETTA: Threatening to target Iranian nationals in Pakistan, hundreds of Baloch women and children rallied on Monday against the recent execution of five Baloch nationals by the Iranian government.

The protest was organised by the Baloch Women’s Panel and the Baloch Students Organisation (BSO-Azad), and was led by University of Balochistan Professor Dr Saba Dashtiyari. Chanting slogans against the Iranian government, the protesters appealed to the international community to take notice of the “grave violation of human rights” against the Baloch Sunni ethnic and religious minority.

Five Baloch were executed in the Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchistan due to their alleged involvement in the terrorist attack on a Shia mosque on May 28, which resulted in 25 people dead and 125 injured. Following the attack, Iran shut down its border with Pakistan, stating Jandullah, who claimed responsibility for the attack, was using Pakistani territory to stage its attacks.

Meher Jan Baloch, a leader of the Baloch Women’s Panel, condemned the public hanging, saying the Baloch were not given a fair trial or the right to defend themselves. “International countries and human rights organisations, mainly the US and the UN, should take notice of the mistreatment meted out to minorities in Iran,” she said. She warned that if Iran did not improve its relations with the Baloch population, then the Baloch living in Pakistan occupied Balochistan would move to help their brethren by target killing Iranian nationals living in, or visiting, Pakistan.

Dr Saba Dashtiyari, meanwhile, claimed Iran and Pakistan had been collaborating with each other to suppress their Baloch populations. She said the Baloch living on both sides of the border did not recognise the international boundary. The public hanging of the Baloch citizens would prove counter-productive in the future, as Baloch would avenge this action, she added.