Human Rights Organizations Urge Immediate Action to Stop the Imminent Execution of 85 Baloch Prisoners in Iran

We, the undersigned human rights organisations, urgently call on the United Nations Special Rapporteurs, in particular the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, and the Special Rapporteur on minority issues, as well as the Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, the international community, and all human rights institutions to take immediate and coordinated action to prevent the mass execution of 85 Baloch prisoners currently at risk in Zahedan Central Prison, Iran.

The Islamic Republic of Iran’s use of the death penalty is deeply concerning, particularly in the context of systemic discrimination, denial of fair trial guarantees, and the targeting of ethnic and religious minorities. The Baloch community, long marginalized and disproportionately impacted by executions, continues to bear the brunt of Iran’s oppressive and arbitrary judicial practices.

Reports from local and international sources indicate that these 85 individuals are at imminent risk of execution following flawed legal processes, with many denied access to legal representation and due process. These executions, if carried out, would not only constitute an irreversible miscarriage of justice but also send a chilling message of repression to marginalized communities across Iran.

The mass execution of detainees under such circumstances amounts to a grave violation of the right to life and international human rights obligations to which Iran is bound, including under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

We therefore call on the UN Special Procedures, including the Special Rapporteur on Iran, to:

• Urgently intervene and communicate with Iranian authorities to halt these executions;
• Demand transparency regarding the legal proceedings and current conditions of the 85 detainees;
• Call for a moratorium on the death penalty with a view toward its abolition, particularly in cases marred by discrimination and unfair trials.

Time is of the essence. We urge all international human rights actors, including the United Nations, diplomatic missions, and civil society, to act swiftly and collectively to stop this impending human rights catastrophe.

Signatories:

Ahwaz Human Rights Organization

All Human Rights for All in Iran

Association for the Human Rights of Azerbaijani People in Iran (AHRAZ)

Baloch Activists Campaign

Balochistan Human Rights Group

Defenders of Human Rights Center

ECPM – Together Against the Death Penalty

Hengaw

Iran Human Rights

Iran Human Rights Documentation Center

Kurdistan Human Rights Network

Kurdistan Human Rights Association - Geneva

Kurdpa

Shivar News

Siamak Pourzand Foundation

United for Iran