Systematic violation of the rights of ethnic minorities in Iran

Iranwire – In the Iranian Regime, ethnic and religious minorities have long endured structural discrimination, widespread deprivation, and severe political and security repression. Kurds, Baloch, Arabs, Turkmens, and religious minorities such as Sunnis and followers of other faiths are subject to severe social, economic, and cultural restrictions. Mass arrests, destruction of religious sites, denial of the right to education in one’s mother tongue, and exclusion from access to public resources form only part of the systematic discriminatory policies they face.

This report highlights a series of violent and extrajudicial measures taken against these communities.

1. Bandar Kolahi Village – A Three-Day Assault Targeting Baluchi and Sunni Civilians

A stark example of targeted repression is the violent assault by security forces on the village of Bandar Kolahi, located in a Sunni-majority area of Sistan and Baluchestan. In May 2025, this village in Minab County, Hormozgan Province, witnessed an unprecedented military operation. Over the course of three consecutive days, special forces stormed the village with armored vehicles, bulldozers, tear gas, and military-grade weapons.

From Saturday, May 11, the village was placed under siege as security forces raided homes under the pretext of combating fuel smuggling. The raids involved forced entry, physical violence, and a complete lack of legal warrants. Personal property — including motorcycles, fishing boats, cash, and gold — was either set on fire, looted, or destroyed.

According to local reports and video evidence, dozens of Baluchi civilians, including children and women, were injured by direct pellet gunfire. One confirmed victim is Ruhollah Malahi, a 15-year-old boy who was shot in the back.

Internet access in the village was disrupted during the operation, and the region experienced a heavy security lockdown. Mass arrests took place, yet the fate of many detainees remains unknown.

Women who protested against this brutality were beaten, threatened, and forcibly silenced. The absence of judicial oversight, looting of private property, and indiscriminate violence against civilians underscore the complete impunity enjoyed by state forces.

2. Demolition of Homes in Khwajeh-Mask – Zahedan

In July 2023, military units conducted a raid on Khwajeh-Mask, a village in Zahedan, deploying more than 20 vehicles to demolish at least 70 homes belonging to Baluchi Sunni citizens. The operation, carried out without judicial orders and in the early hours of the morning, left families homeless with no time to evacuate or secure their belongings. The psychological and material impact of this attack on the residents, particularly children and women, remains profound.

3. Arbitrary Arrests in Qush-Sarbouzi – Sarakhs

In February 2025, security forces raided the homes of Baluchi residents in Qush-Sarbouzi, Sarakhs County. Five individuals were arrested without any legal documentation or charges. Eyewitnesses reported verbal abuse, physical violence, and forced disappearance of the detainees, whose whereabouts remain unknown. Families have been denied any form of legal recourse.

4. Detention of Arab Cultural Figures – Khuzestan

In December 2024, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) detained dozens of Arab Sunni poets, artists, and cultural activists in Khuzestan Province. Accusations such as “espionage” and “gathering sensitive information” were cited without transparency or due process. Detainees have been denied access to lawyers, and their locations remain undisclosed. Their personal electronic devices were also confiscated during the arrests.

Conclusion

These separate incidents from four different provinces reveal a clear and coordinated policy of repression targeting Iran’s ethnic and religious minorities. Common patterns across these cases include:

• Excessive use of force by state security agents;
• Lack of judicial authorization for raids, arrests, and demolitions;
• Targeting of vulnerable groups, particularly children, women, and cultural figures;
• Communication blackouts and security lockdowns isolating affected communities.

The Iranian government’s policies not only violate justice and equality but also transform daily life for minorities into a constant state of fear and insecurity.

Call to the International Community

We urge international human rights organizations and relevant global bodies to:

• Launch immediate and independent investigations into the events in Bandar Kolahi and similar incidents;
• Ensure transparency regarding the status of detainees and guarantee their fundamental rights;
• Increase international pressure on the Iranian authorities to end targeted repression and hold those responsible accountable.