Iranian authorities release 42 prisoners from rebellious Balochistan region

Iranian authorities have released 42 prisoners from the southern province of Sistan-Balochistan, a region known for its resistance to rule from Tehran and the site of the "Bloody Friday" massacre on 30 September 2022, according to local Iranian media.  

One hundred people were granted amnesty in the Sistan-Balochistan province under the orders of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, reported the state-aligned Tehran Times. 

A local judicial official, Hojjatoleslam Ali Mostafavi, told the outlet that 42 out of of the 100 had been freed and that the rest will be released soon. 

"These people have been given clemency since they were not linked to hostile organisations and had participated in the riots emotionally," said Mostafavi according to the Tehran Times. 

The Iranian government has consistently tried to discredit widespread anti-government protests sweeping through the country by labelling them as "riots" spurred by "foreign agents". 

The demonstrations, ongoing since mid-September, were originally sparked by the death in custody of Kurdish-Iranian Mahsa Amini, who was reportedly beaten by the so-called morality police for wearing her hijab incorrectly. 

Most of the people of Balochistan - Iran's poorest province - are from the Baloch ethnic group, who have their own language and are primarily Sunni Muslims. They have long-standing grievances against Tehran and separatist rebels carry out frequent attacks.

 One of the most violent episodes of the current protests sweeping Iran occurred when security forces killed at least 82 demonstrators in September, in what was known as the "Bloody Friday" massacre. 

The massacre started when protesters gathered outside Zahedan’s police station to demand accountability for the rape of a 15-year-old girl. 

Amnesty International has called for international action to stop mass killings in the region, saying: "Protesters from the oppressed Balochi minority have borne the burnt of the security forces’ particularly vicious crackdown on demonstrators." 

A delegation was recently sent to the area to "remedy the wounds of the people in the province," reported Tehran Times. 

Ayatollah Khamenei has also requested "an accurate investigation" into the region's "recent incidents," the pro-government website said. 

Iranian authorities have arrest thousands of protesters across the country over the last two months and routinely used disproportionate violence to squash peaceful demonstrations. 

At least 22 people detained during the protests are now facing trail with charges punishable by the death penalty.