The 2021 Sistan and Baluchestan protests were a series of protests in the Sistan and Baluchestan province of

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...

. The protests started on 23 February 2021 after multiple Baloch fuel traders were killed at the Iran–Pakistan border.

Timeline

23 February

After at least ten fuel traders, including a 17-year-old, were shot and killed by the armed forces of the Islamic Republic the previous day, protests and strikes erupted across Sistan and Baluchestan province on 23 February. In Saravan, protesters were met with live ammunition after they occupied the governor's office.

24 February

On 24 February, protests intensified across the province. In

Zahedan Zahedan (Balochi language, Balochi and ; ) is a city in the Central District (Zahedan County), Central District of Zahedan County, Sistan and Baluchestan province, Sistan and Baluchestan province, Iran, serving as capital of the province, th ...

, protesters clashed heavily with the security forces, and overran a police outpost. Demonstrations were also reported in Khash, Iranshahr, and Saravan. Internet service in various areas of the province, including Zahedan and Saravan, was completely cut. According to Iran Human Rights Monitor, two protesters, Mohammad Saleh Motaghedi and 13-year-old Hassan Mohammadzehi were killed after they were shot by the

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), also known as the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, is a multi-service primary branch of the Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces, Iranian Armed Forces. It was officially established by Ruhollah Khom ...

Mahmoud Vaezi Mahmoud Vaezi (, born 22 May 1952) is an Iranian engineer, politician and former diplomat. He was minister of communication from 2013 until 2017 and chief of staff of the president of Iran from 2017 to 2021. He obtained B.S. and M.S. in degre ...

blamed

Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...

i authorities for the killings.

25 February

Despite a complete internet shutdown, and heavy security presence, protests and strikes continued into 25 February in various cities in the province. In neighbourhoods of

, protestors set up roadblocks and clashed with the security forces.

Responses

High Commissioner for the

UNHCHR The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is a department of the United Nations Secretariat that works to promote and protect human rights that are guaranteed under international law and stipulated in the Univers ...

Rupert Colville condemned the killing of estimated 23 people by

Sepah The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), also known as the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, is a multi-service primary branch of the Iranian Armed Forces. It was officially established by Ruhollah Khomeini as a military branch in May 1979 i ...

. Several Balochs from Pakistani Balochistan staged protest in support of their Iranian counterparts.

References

Protests in Iran 2021 in Iran 2021 protests History of Sistan and Baluchestan province 2022 protests 2022 in Iran {{Iran-hist-stub