As the 22nd day of the nationwide internet blackout in Iran unfolds, verified reports have revealed a horrific crime within the walls of Chabahar Prison. In the early hours of Wednesday, March 18, 2026 (27 Esfand 1404), security forces responded to prisoners’ protests over the deprivation of food rations by firing live ammunition directly at them, resulting in the death of several and the wounding of dozens of Baluch prisoners.
Details of the Slaughter in Chabahar and Evidence from Family Contacts
The protests began on Tuesday evening after prisoners had been deprived of any food rations for four consecutive days. Prisoners exited their wards to demand basic necessities and a transfer to safe locations in the face of ongoing airstrikes. Special Units (Yegan-e Vizheh) surrounded the courtyard and opened fire on the protesting prisoners instantly.
The credibility of this report was further solidified when dozens of injured prisoners, following their transfer to “Imam Ali” Hospital in Chabahar, made brief, emergency calls to their families, describing shocking scenes of the shooting and the death of their fellow cellmates. Reports indicate that security agencies have secretly transferred the bodies of the deceased to morgues to prevent the disclosure of their identities and the exact number of fatalities.
Explicit Violation of Domestic and International Laws
The regime’s recent actions in Chabahar prison constitute a flagrant violation of its own regulations and international covenants:
- Violation of Article 211 of the Prison Organization’s Executive Regulations: According to this article, the prison administration is mandated to provide appropriate food rations and hygiene for prisoners. Depriving them of food for four days is a clear instance of torture and a direct violation of this law.
- Articles 114 and 117: These articles emphasize the necessity of maintaining “safety of life” and “civil defense” within prisons. Under these provisions, the Organization is obligated to implement protective plans to save the lives of detainees during crises (bombings or unforeseen accidents). Abandoning prisoners in locked wards under missile fire is a direct violation of the duty to “protect persons under supervision.”
- The Principle of State Responsibility: Under Iranian administrative and criminal law, the state is the “Guarantor” of the prisoner’s life. When an individual has no possibility of escape, any failure to provide safety during wartime is legally classified as “murder in the ruling of intent” (Constructive Intent).
Responsibility in Wartime Conditions:
According to legal and humanitarian custom, if a government is unable to ensure the safety and sustenance of detainees in the face of military attacks, it is obligated to open the gates and grant general release to the prisoners. Abandoning prisoners behind locked doors under bombardment constitutes “attempted premeditated murder.”
It must be emphasized that under Article 10 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), all persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated with “humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person.” Furthermore, according to the Fourth Geneva Convention, even during wartime, civilians (including prisoners) must not be exposed to the harms of war, and the ruling power is responsible for their lives.
Call to the International Community and Responsible Bodies; Urgent Action is Essential
We warn of an unprecedented human catastrophe unfolding behind the high walls of Iran’s prisons. The Islamic Republic regime is utilizing the state of war and the internet blackout as a cover for the physical liquidation of prisoners. Therefore, we seriously demand the following:
- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) must immediately and without delay intervene to monitor food distribution and the physical safety of prisoners in Chabahar and all other prisons and detention centers.
- The UN Human Rights Council must prosecute the architects of this slaughter, specifically officials of the Prison Organization who have committed Crimes Against Humanity by cutting food rations and abandoning wards under missile attacks.
- Free access to information as the only means of monitoring the lives of prisoners must be guaranteed; every minute of news silence translates to another bullet fired into the heart of a trapped prisoner.
In a situation where the rule of law in Iran has completely collapsed and the judiciary has turned into an arm for slaughter, the ultimate responsibility lies with the international community. The Iranian regime has committed war crimes and Crimes Against Humanity by using “hunger as a weapon” and “direct fire” against trapped prisoners. We demand the exercise of Universal Jurisdiction against the heads of the regime. The Human Rights Council and the International Criminal Court must intervene directly and bindingly to safeguard the right to life of thousands of defenseless prisoners before the disaster of Chabahar turns into a massive massacre in the silence of the internet blackout. The time for ceremonial statements has passed; urgent international action is the only way to prevent a tragedy that history will not forgive.
