Sunni Baloch Community
News:
Iran has executed a significant number of people this year, with a surge in hangings during May.
Highlights:
- Iran has executed over 300 people this year, with May having the highest monthly figure since 2015.
- At least 307 people have been executed in 2023, a rise of over 75% compared to the same period last year.
- In May, 142 people were executed, averaging over four hangings per day.
- The executions include cases related to protests, as well as drug and murder convictions.
- Ethnic minorities, particularly the largely Sunni Baluch minority, have been disproportionately targeted.
Why:
- Campaigners believe Iran is intensifying executions to instil fear and suppress the protest movement that started in September.
- The purpose is to spread societal fear and maintain the leadership’s rule.
Who:
- Iran Human Rights (IHR), a Norway-based rights group, reported the execution figures.
- Sunni Baloch community:
- Sunni Balochs are an ethnic minority group in Iran.
- They primarily reside in the southeastern region of the country, near the borders of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
- The Balochs are part of the larger Baloch ethnic group found in Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
- They have their own language, Balochi. They also have distinct cultural traditions and social structures. They have faced challenges such as marginalization, economic disparities, and cultural assimilation policies.
Question:
With respect to Iran’s human rights situation and ethnic minorities, consider the following statements:
- Over 300 people have been executed in Iran in the year 2023.
- The Sunni Baloch ethnic group is exclusive to Iran and does not reside in any other countries.
- Iran Human Rights (IHR), the group that reported the execution figures, is based in Norway.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[A] Only 1 and 3
[B] Only 1 and 2
[C] Only 2 and 3
[D] All of the above
Answer:
[A] Only 1 and 3
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct as the text mentions that at least 307 people have been executed in Iran in 2023.
Statement 2 is incorrect. The Sunni Baloch ethnic group is not exclusive to Iran. They also reside in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Statement 3 is correct. Iran Human Rights (IHR), the group reporting these figures, is indeed based in Norway.
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