Coinciding with the return of Iran's morality police to the nation's streets to enforce the mandatory hijab for women, Iranian authorities appear intent on continuing an execution spree targeting this week the Baluch minority.
On Wednesday, the Oslo-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) tweeted its concern about the recent spate of executions targeting the Baluch minority. According to the group, 11 Baluchi men had been executed within 48 hours on drug charges.
The Baluch community, concentrated in Sistan and Baluchestan province in the southwest, constitute 2% of Iran’s total population, according to the United States Institute of Peace. As a Sunni community, and thus a religious minority, the Baluch are subject to regular discrimination by authorities in Shiite-majority country.
In a report released Wednesday, the IHR claimed that in July Iran had executed 61 people, including four women and five Afghan nationals, in addition to the 11 Baluchis.
