According to the Iranian regime’s own statistics, Sistan and Baluchestan is by far the poorest province in the country. In many images transmitted from this province, it seems as if time has stopped, and there is no sign of development or progress. One can then imagine the condition of the people not in the provincial capital but in one of the towns of this province, such as Khash.
Furthermore, one can go even further to a village in Khash called Qaderabad. It is evident that the black face of poverty is widespread everywhere there, and the few clips that have been released from there show the deprivation and destitution of the residents of the region. In this village, nothing is seen except half-ruined houses, dusty spaces, and weary faces.
In that forgotten place, if there is no sign of people’s welfare and children’s laughter and joy, The regime’s security forces are present to intimidate and suppress any dissenting voice. In one of the latest examples, on July 29th, they attacked the village under false pretenses, searched citizens’ homes, and opened fire. As a result, several were injured, and a female resident was killed.
When it comes to the oppression and injustice of Khamenei’s agents against Baluchestan, the constant story of executions is also noteworthy. The high share of Baluch people in executions indicates the regime’s fear of the hatred and defiance of the brave people of that region against the regime.
In this province, the bullying municipal guards and the extortionist IRGC agents roam everywhere to demolish the homes of old women and the defenseless, and the news of the destruction of people’s huts is a regular part of the news from that region. Watching some of the clips containing the cries and pleas of the helpless in the face of the oppressors is not easy and boils the blood of any decent person.
Connection with the Nationwide Movement
Iran’s Baluch people have seen nothing but enmity, scorn, and bullets from the mullahs and the shah for over a century. Every voice of protest that has come out from the throat of a brave person has been silenced, and every freedom-seeking movement has faced hot lead and the barrel of a gun, with no continuity.
If in several rounds of the regime’s sham elections, the lowest participation rates in the voting games have belonged to this province, it has not been accidental. For many years, the people of this province, like other provinces, have made it clear that the regime is their enemy.
But now, for years, the people of Baluchestan have been connecting their protests with the expanding activities and networks of Iran’s Resistance Units, a network of PMOI activists that are present across the country and are keeping the flame of protests and uprisings alive in every corner of Iran.
There has been hardly a Friday in recent years when Resistance Units have not filled the walls and streets of the cities of Baluchestan with their epic slogans. With this constant movement, they have not only boosted the morale of their Baluch compatriots but have also become leaders of resistance throughout Iran. They have well understood that to achieve their demands, their first and most important duty is to connect with the nationwide freedom movement of the Iranian people. For this reason, in all the nationwide uprisings from 2017 onwards, and especially in the great uprising of 2022, they have shown great bravery and made many sacrifices for the sake of freedom and democracy in Iran.
The Resistance Units spread slogans of unity and resistance, including “No to Shah no to mullahs,” which represents the will of Iranian people to reject all forms of tyranny and making it clear that they will settle for nothing less than the overthrow of the regime won’t return to the shah dictatorship.
The brave Baluch Resistance Units also make it clear that the sham elections of the regime will not deceive the people of Iran.
In the face of the severe wave of executions, they say, “We are stronger than death, executions, and massacres.” They expose Khamenei’s aim of executing political prisoners and wrote, “Executing political prisoners is Khamenei’s attempt to create a barrier against the uprising.” They describe “the destruction of people’s homes in Baluchistan” as “a lever of pressure in both the Shah and Sheikh regimes.” They promise the regime that “darker days are ahead for the regime, and the countdown has begun.”
But their most beautiful slogan was their strong conviction and belief in victory and the bright future of Iran:
“This regime is doomed. Iran’s democratic revolution will prevail.”