London [UK], December 14 (ANI): The Baloch Advocacy and Studies Centre (BASC) held a webinar on Saturday, December 13, 2025, detailing severe human rights abuses faced by the Baloch in Iran and Pakistan, BASC said in a press release.
The online event brought together international experts, scholars, and Baloch advocates to discuss enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, structural discrimination, and the gendered impact of state repression. Panelists included Mohammed Al-Obaidi of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID); Raha Bahreini, Iran researcher at Amnesty International; Dr. Sabiha Baloch, leader of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC); Abdollah Aref, Lead Researcher on Iran at BASC; Mohsen Burhanzehi, BASC Director of Media and Communications; and Aisha Baloch, BASC Research Associate. The session was moderated by Qambar Malik Baloch, BASC General Secretary.
Dr. Sabiha Baloch described systematic and complex violations in Balochistan, Pakistan, highlighting widespread enforced disappearances, increasing targeting of Baloch women, extrajudicial killings, and harassment of human rights defenders and their families. Aisha Baloch presented BASC findings documenting state violence and collective punishment against Baloch communities in Pakistan.
Mohammed Al-Obaidi condemned enforced disappearances, expressed sympathy for victims and families, and urged that cases be brought before the WGEID. He said the Group has repeatedly raised concerns with Pakistani authorities, calling for an end to disappearances and compliance with international obligations.
On Iran, Mohsen Burhanzehi described how structural discrimination disproportionately affects Baloch women and children, noting many lack identity documents and are therefore denied healthcare, education, and other public services. Abdollah Aref detailed patterns in Iranian Balochistan, including disproportionate executions, arbitrary detentions, and targeting of fuel carriers known as Sokhtbars—many of whom engage in the dangerous work due to poverty and then face criminalisation and deadly force.
Raha Bahreini called Balochistan one of Iran’s poorest regions, attributing this to entrenched discrimination and neglect. She highlighted unlawful lethal force, use of the death penalty, and failures to protect life-sustaining rights that place the Baloch at continuous risk.
Concluding the webinar, Qambar Malik Baloch said BASC will continue collaborating with international experts and researchers and facilitate discussions to raise awareness and help alleviate the plight of the Baloch people, BASC’s release added.
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