Following the execution of Nasrollah Shanbehzai and UN Security Council’s Press Statement No. SC/8957 which failed to address the persecution of the Baloch community by Iranian authorities, representatives of Balochistan joined together in solidarity to express their disappointment in the UN Security Council. The following is an excerpt from their joint letter issued to UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon on 21 February 2007:
“Dear Mr Ban Ki Moon,
We the undersigned political parties of Balochistan which strive for democracy and a civic society would like to express our concerns in relation to the press statement No. SC/8957 of Security Council on 15th February 2007.
The statement failed to address the sufferings and injustices of oppressed people of Balochistan. It regrettably was concerned solely with the demand and appeasement of Iranian regime hence it lost sense of purpose to serve humanity. The Security Council under its Charter has the responsibility to promote peace and stability. Under Article 1, the purposes of the United Nations are to promote and encourage respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion.
Millions of innocent peace-loving and law-abiding Baloch people in Balochistan are left at the mercy of a brutal regime in Iran. They have been constantly under relentless oppressions, discriminations by the Iranian regime, and marginalised in every aspect of life (political representation, religion, culture, education, economics and social advancement). Grotesque violation of basic human rights of the people of Balochistan by the Iranian regime is a routine dilemma. Kangaroo Court style public executions of innocent Baloch people and freedom fighters are rampant in Balochistan. In the past year alone over a hundred people were hanged in a pre-medieval manner in public under false and fabricated allegations with full publicity. An innocent man, Mr Nasrullah SHANBEHZAI was summarily put to death following the impetus provided for by your statement to cruelty of cruel regime of Iran. He was arbitrarily arrested following the bombing of Revolutionary Guards in Zahidan and put under degrading tortures to extract confession. He under duress had no choice but to confess in taking part, and appeared in a state-sponsored TV. His execution may have not taken place, had the Security Council shown restraint and wisdom by declining to issue the statement of condemnation. Article 9 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights prohibits the Iranian regime from arbitrary arrest and detention of Mr SHANBEHZAI, and his subsequent execution. His arrest was arbitrary as the regime stated that no one was caught at the bombing scene. No evidence of being involved was found or announced. He did not have a fair trial for the reasons that no attorney represented him […].
The Iranian regime has never hidden its policies and stance on intimidating Baloch people and on suppression of them to total subjection. But unfortunately it is the UN and its main body the Security Council which up to now has been failing to acknowledge violation of Baloch people’s human rights in the hand of notorious regime in Iran let alone safeguarding them. The UN has not only failed to protect the innocent Baloch people, but also failed to implement its own obligations since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in its preamble clearly states: Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.
According to the Declaration the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world is the recognition of dignity and equal rights of the human family which Baloch is one. It is ineptness of the Security Council not to see and redress the level of inflicted indignity and imposed inequality coupled with systematic state-led discrimination upon Baloch people by the regime in Balochistan for the past 28 years. The Declaration requires the Security Council to envisage the fact that erosion and deprivation of dignity and equality of Baloch people could not bring peace and security to the region. […]
Furthermore the Security Council should have at least considered (if not followed) the spirit of the UDHR as it states that: Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law. We are sure that it is within the knowledge of the Security Council that Iran as a member state and signatory to the UN’s Charter and Universal Declaration of Human Rights is one the most persistent violator of human rights in the world, if so how it allowed itself to ignore the relevant facts on Iran’s record in relation to fundamentals of human rights and freedom which would have concluded that the recourse of Baloch fighters as a last resort to rebellion against tyranny and oppression is a direct response to lack of any protection by law in Iran.
The article 30 of UDHR precludes any justification by states for having any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth in it. Therefore the Islamic Republic of Iran is no exempt and has no right to oppress Baloch people and deny them freedom and right of self-determination. Baloch political parties […] are struggling for right of self-determination which is enshrined in Article 1 of the United Nations International Convention on Civil and Political Rights. It states that: All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.
We the political parties and organisations of Balochistan are being vigorously persecuted by the regime, and have no means to exercise our right of association and expression of opinion in our homeland, Balochistan.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has shown to be a threat to the peace and security of not only to its people and region but to the international community by negating the values and principles of the United Nations. Such defiant acts are oppression of Baloch people and direct interference in the internal affairs of Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and elsewhere. On behalf of Baloch people we call upon the Security Council to recommend expulsion of Islamic Republic of Iran to the General Assembly of United Nations under Article 6 for persistently violating the Principles contained in the UN Charter. We also demand that a special representative to be sent urgently to prevent wave of arbitrary arrests, tortures and executions of innocent Baloch people to rectify the tragic effects of ill-thought statement of Feb 15th. [2007]
We look forward to your affirmative actions in defence [defense] and protection of Baloch people’s human rights, freedom and right of self-determination.
Yours sincerely,
Balochistan National Movement-Iran
Balochistan People’s Party
Balochistan United Front of Iran
Balochistan United Front (Federal Republican)
Balochistan Mobarezeen Movement”
