The Stigma of the Stateless in Sistan and Baluchestan; The Government's Approach has Become 'Security-Oriented'

An Iranian news agency reported on the ongoing problems faced by stateless individuals in Sistan and Baluchestan, emphasizing that the follow-up by parliamentary representatives with the Ministry of Interior has led nowhere. The ILNA news agency reported that there are 'several thousand' individuals who have dropped out of school due to lack of identification documents, stating that these individuals are deprived of subsidies, oil quotas, insurance, education, property deeds, and many opportunities that those with identification enjoy. The CEO and chairman of the board of the Makran Cultural, Social, and Research Institute stated that the reason for the non-implementation of existing resolutions regarding the issuance of identification documents and the examination of the 'Iranian origin' of stateless individuals is due to the 'security-oriented' nature of the issue, noting that 'this matter has been transferred from the political and social deputy of the Sistan and Baluchestan governorate to the security deputy, adopting a security approach.' Subhan Dehvari emphasized that 'the assumption is that all these individuals are not Iranian unless proven otherwise.' Dehvari also referred to the issue of intergenerational identity gaps, believing that the Islamic Republic has been transferring statelessness from one individual to another, from father to child and from child to grandchild for generations. According to this social activist, the continuation of this trend strips these individuals of 'human dignity, Iranian identity, and a sense of belonging to their homeland,' causing serious harm to them and creating social crises. Stateless individuals are mostly marginalized in various regions of Sistan and Baluchestan, who have engaged in livestock and agriculture over the decades and have not sought identification due to their remoteness from the center. Some have remained stateless for other reasons, including historical political issues (even before the 1979 Revolution), and now their children face difficulties in obtaining government services and citizenship rights. Previously, the newspaper 'Etemad' also reported on March 2, 2023, that stateless individuals in this province are viewed as 'perpetual criminals,' and their issues are intertwined with 'security' matters. The newspaper stated that the treatment of these individuals is such that a few years ago, during a wedding ceremony of one stateless individual, the police entered the house, arrested the groom, and then deported him across the border. Etemad described 'border crossing' as a constant threat for the stateless, stating that movement in the streets, at work, and being in any public place is always accompanied by 'a bit of fear.' The Islamic Republic's inappropriate and security-oriented approach to stateless individuals took on new dimensions last year with the killing of Khodamoor Lajahi. On Sunday, December 11, 2022, Etemad reported that 'Khodamoor lived in the Shirabad neighborhood of Zahedan and, like many people in Baluchestan, faced the problem of lacking identification. Khodamoor lost his life during protests on Sunday, October 2, 2022, but left a photo of himself on social media that sparked significant public reactions.' Khodamoor was arrested by the police in Zahedan in July 2022 and was humiliated for hours by being tied to the flagpole of the Zahedan police station. Judicial and law enforcement officials in Sistan and Baluchestan, following the publication of his image and its widespread reflection, considered Khodamoor as 'an Afghan national' and charged him with 'armed robbery,' but stated that he had been released on bail since August 18. Khodamoor Lajahi, son of Sanobar and Isa, was born on the tenth day of autumn and was killed on the tenth day of autumn, on the day he turned 27. He was one of these stateless individuals. Additionally, it is estimated that there are about 300,000 to 400,000 stateless individuals in Iran. Another activist for women's and children's rights in Iran has been arrested. More than 140,000 children in Iran have dropped out of school this year. Tens of thousands of stateless children in Iran are deprived of basic rights to education and healthcare. A narrative from a Baluch citizen about living without identification; citizens who are deprived of minimum rights.