Country: Iran

Group: Baluch

Date: 04/15/2021

Team: Vianney Mancilla (lead) and Alicia Hernandez

Content Warning: revolution, physical abuse, eviction

Approximate Time Period: 2005-present

There is sufficient evidence supporting the displacement of the Baluch in Iran. Given the consistency and reliability among the sources, including the U.S. State Department and United Nations, the data quality was rated a 3.

The Baluch were mostly autonomous until Reza Shah launched a series of pacification campaigns against the Baluchi in the early 20th century (The University of Maryland, 2006). By 1935, none of the Baluchi tribal chiefs were able to oppose him, but still maintained some autonomy (The University of Maryland, 2006). During the Iranian revolution in 1979, the Iran revolutionary guards took away the Baluchi’s limited autonomy (The University of Maryland, 2006). Later, in 2001, Iran increased military presence in the region in order to protect the border against illegal smuggling (The University of Maryland, 2006). However, the military presence may have also served to prevent increased unrest in the region (due to U.S. attacks on neighboring Afghanistan) (2006). From 2005-2006, the Iranian government enacted new policies that led to the displacement of the Baluch people (International Federation for Human Rights, 2010). The Iranian government forcibly evicted the Baluch and demolished their houses. The Iranian government did not offer alternative housing options and took over their land to construct houses for security forces (International Federation for Human Rights, 2010). The national policy included the resettlement of hundreds of thousands of non-Baluchis in Baluchistan to lessen and “dilute” the Baluchi presence in the region (International Federation for Human Rights, 2010). The U.S. State Department reports that the Iranian government is suppressing Baluchi journalists and human rights activists through arrest, physical abuse, and unfair trials (United States Institute of Peace, 2013). According to the United Nations, the Baluch continue to face poverty, discrimination, and limited access to education, employment, and housing (United States Institute of Peace, 2013).

Sources

  1. International Federation for Human Rights. (2010). The Hidden Side of Iran: Discrimination Against Ethnic and Religious Minorities. Retrieved from https://www.fidh.org/IMG/pdf/IrandiscrimLDDHI545a.pdf on April 15, 2021. 
  2. United States Institute of Peace. (2013). Iran Minorities 2: Ethnic Diversity. Retrieved from https://iranprimer.usip.org/blog/2013/sep/03/iran-minorities-2-ethnic-diversity on April 15, 2021.
  3. The University of Maryland. (2006). Assessment for Baluchis in Iran. Retrieved from http://www.mar.umd.edu/assessment.asp?groupId=63005 on April 15, 2021.