Description

According to reports on the fourth day of Esfand 1399 (February 22, 2021), members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) opened fire on unarmed fuel carriers near the city of Saravan in Sistan and Baluchestan province, Iran. In this shooting, at least 10 people, including a 17-year-old boy, were killed and several others were injured, most of whom were from the impoverished Baloch minority and were attempting to transport fuel through the Iran-Pakistan border. The fuel carriers encountered members of the IRGC stationed at the Shamsor military base. This incident sparked widespread protests in the region, during which security forces used live ammunition against the protesters, leading to more deaths and injuries. HRA monitors the situation of targeted killings of Sookhtbars each year which remain alarmingly high and occurring with impunity.

Events:
- Incident on the second day of Esfand 1399: On that date, the IRGC stationed at the Shamsor military base blocked the road leading to Saravan with metal chains and a large number of fuel carriers near the Iran-Pakistan border were surrounded with limited food and water. After unsuccessful negotiations, on the fourth of Esfand 1399, a group of fuel carriers attempted to bypass the obstacles.

In response, the IRGC fired warning shots and then live ammunition, killing at least 10 fuel carriers, including a 17-year-old boy, and injuring several others.

- Subsequent protests and crackdown: The massacre on the fourth day of Esfand led to protests in Saravan and surrounding areas. Security forces responded violently to the demonstrators and other attendees, resulting in the deaths of at least two individuals and injuries to many others. Due to the lack of access to mobile network services in the region, which were cut off from the sixth to the ninth of Esfand 1399, verifying the number of casualties was complicated.

Legal and human rights considerations:
- Right to life: The killing of unarmed fuel carriers by the IRGC constitutes a violation of the right to life, guaranteed under Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Additionally, the deliberate use of military ammunition against non-combatants who pose no immediate threat raises serious concerns about extrajudicial killings.

- Non-discrimination: Targeting fuel carriers from the Baloch minority indicates a broader framework of discrimination based on national, social, and economic status. The massacre and excessive use of force against the Baloch community can be considered discriminatory acts in violation of Article 26 of the ICCPR.

Crime against humanity:
- Murder: The deliberate and systematic killing of fuel carriers, including minors, may be recognized as murder and a crime against humanity under Article 7 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). These attacks appear to be part of a wider campaign against a vulnerable ethnic minority.

- Torture and persecution: The continued killing, harassment, and persecution of fuel carriers and the Baloch people, based on their ethnic and economic background, may be regarded as a crime against humanity. These actions indicate a discriminatory and systematic approach that violates numerous international human rights laws.

The attack on unarmed fuel carriers by the IRGC on the fourth day of Esfand 1399 in Sistan and Baluchestan province is a serious violation of the right to life and may constitute crimes against humanity, including murder, torture, and persecution. The use of live ammunition against non-combatants and subsequent violence during the protests highlights ongoing concerns regarding the treatment of marginalized groups, such as the Baloch minority in Iran. Investigating these incidents is necessary to ensure accountability for human rights violations and to end systematic discrimination against ethnic minorities

Categories

• Suppression of Protests

Violation Types

• Right to Life
• Right to non-discrimination based on religion, race, gender, etc...

Possible International Crimes

• Murder as a crime against humanity
• Harassment and torture as crimes against humanity, in political, racial, national, ethnic, cultural, religious, and gender domains