Statement of the Baluch Women’s Movement Condemning War

April 1, 2026

We write these words in a moment heavy with grief, anger, and ruin. These days, death and the constant fear of destruction are daily realities. Speaking itself is now costly and dangerous. We speak from a geography long pushed to the margins and always at the center of violence and repression. Baluchistan has repeatedly been among the first victims of security-driven and militarized policies.

As Baluch women, we firmly and clearly oppose the rising cycle of violence, repression, executions, and war. Our position is unequivocal: increasing violence only deepens suffering.

War, an extension of destruction, not a path to liberation

The military attack by the United States and Israel on Iran, regardless of its justification, only brings more death, devastation, and instability. The region’s history—from Iraq to Afghanistan to Syria—shows that war never achieves freedom or justice. War destroys infrastructure, tears apart society, and creates poverty and ongoing violence. Liberation does not follow war; only devastation and renewed authoritarianism remain.

In these circumstances, the Islamic Republic responds to peaceful movements with violence: arrests, torture, and executions. War makes this cycle worse, not better. When war starts, governments expand repression in the name of national security and silence all dissent.

Every military strike has direct, destructive consequences, especially in a country like Iran. More soldiers appear on the streets. Surveillance and control expand. People face mass arrests under vague security charges as repression intensifies. Protesters become direct targets. During these times, extrajudicial executions increase under emergency conditions. The line between 'external war' and 'internal repression' fades. Violence is embedded in every layer of social life.

At the same time, the destruction of vital infrastructure—from water and electricity networks to healthcare and education systems—drives daily life into crisis. Access to basic services shrinks. Poverty and inequality worsen. Marginalized groups are pushed further toward erasure. Among them, women, children, and communities on the margins are first and hardest hit.

War is not a path to freedom. Instead, it intensifies the oppressive conditions we have endured for years: violence, repression, deprivation, and constant threats. War continues and worsens these systems, stripping away life and hope from the people.

Baluchistan, living in a continuous state of war

For the Baluch people, war is not new. For years, we have faced securitization, repression, structural poverty, executions, and systematic erasure. These are daily realities. Our streets and cities have often witnessed the suppression of peaceful protests. Civilians are direct targets. Mass arrests are carried out under the pretext of security. Pressure on the environment, livelihoods, and culture forces life into a defensive, threatened posture.

Any external attack makes things worse by empowering internal repressive forces. These forces escalate violence, increase arrests, and intensify repression. Attacks deepen emergencies, disrupt daily life, and heighten tensions with the state, worsening poverty and insecurity for the Baluch people, especially in marginalized regions.

Living in Baluchistan means living in a continuous state of war. Repression sustains war internally. The ever-present threat of intervention does so externally. Each force reinforces the destructive power of the other.

We state clearly: Israel and the United States did not start this war out of concern for human rights or Iranian freedom. Their true objectives are to control resources and extend influence. Media linked to these nations present misleading narratives to justify intervention.

At the same time, we consider the Islamic Republic of Iran to be one of the principal agents and responsible parties for the current catastrophic situation.

This government’s record is filled with violence and human rights violations. These range from killing protesters and suppressing peaceful gatherings to arbitrary arrests and forced confessions. Torture and widespread executions are common. Many people are denied basic civil and social rights.

We do not forget that during the January protests, bullets were fired into the chests of demonstrators. Families were left wandering, helpless, searching for their loved ones. What happened was not an exception; it was a manifestation of an ongoing mechanism of repression embedded in the structure of power.

Now, in the midst of war, the government adds new forms of violence to daily life. Internet shutdowns, communication restrictions, and a lack of emergency shelters are common. Severe limitations define daily experiences. Fear and stress, along with the constant threat of bombs and military attacks, are daily realities. Life is cast into ongoing terror and insecurity.

Drawing the line against war-mongering

At the same time, we draw a clear line against all war-mongering forces, from any side. Whether within or outside the country, those who call for military intervention, crippling sanctions, and bombardment contribute to the same destructive cycle. Each group claiming to act for the 'Iranian people' simply fuels violence and suffering without regard for the consequences.

Monarchist factions and pro-war groups take to the streets of Europe and the United States. They celebrate, chant “Thank you, Trump,” and “Thank you, Netanyahu,” and wave the Israeli flag. While they remain detached from reality, Israel continues its occupation of Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine.

These groups show staggering arrogance. In European parliaments, they present themselves as a superior race, distinct from the peoples of the Global South. They believe they will not share the same fate.

These groups turn away from the killing of innocent children in Minab and elsewhere. They dismiss it as a fantasy they call 'freedom.' At the same time, they show more sympathy for American soldiers entering Iran. They remain silent about the deaths of Iranian women and children.

The leader of the monarchist current, Reza Pahlavi, has shown a thirst for power and a desire for revenge against those who rejected his father’s dictatorship. He is indifferent to the suffering and death of the people. He openly called those killed in the January 2025 protests “war casualties.” He has appealed directly to foreign powers—including Trump—to advance his personal ambitions. He seeks legitimacy for military intervention and external attacks.

He calls for infrastructure destruction, harsher sanctions, and mass casualties among the Iranian people. He presents himself as a transitional leader, but acts as if he owns Iran. He lobbies for attacks on the country and becomes a direct accomplice in killings. Those killed included people who believe in democracy, justice, and who have long fought for freedom. His actions represent neither liberation nor a defense of rights. Instead, they perpetuate violence and exploit human suffering for politics.

We categorically reject the claim that violence, bombardment, or foreign intervention can deliver freedom and justice. Liberation is only possible through civil resistance, grassroots movements, social solidarity, and true commitment to universal human rights and justice. Weapons do not bring freedom. We call on everyone to unite in peaceful advocacy for these values. Stand with us for human rights and justice for all.

Against war, executions, and repression

War not only destroys physically, but also tears apart the social fabric. It erodes human bonds. War-driven policies—by states or opposition forces—fragment society, weaken solidarity, and destroy collective life. This process not only targets progressive forces resisting the Islamic Republic; it places all of Iran’s people at risk of collapse, instability, and insecurity.

During the 'Jin, Jiyan, Azadi' movement, we faced hard paths and uncharted routes. We brought profound transformations into society’s heart. Women, queer individuals, and marginalized communities spoke out. They reclaimed their voices for rights and freedom. Progressive forces united and advanced toward freedom. We managed to push back the power of the Islamic Republic, even if only in part.

We became makers of history. We do not retreat or stand by watching movements die. We do not accept the destruction of our country. We refuse to return to the bloody decades of the past. We, Baluch women, are born into struggle. Even in war, repression, violence, and internet shutdowns, we raise our voices and carry them to the world.

As a first step, we declare unequivocally:No to war, and we call for the formation and strengthening of anti-war groups to demand an immediate end to bombardment and all forms of foreign military aggression.

We further affirm our fundamental and non-negotiable principles:We oppose the death penalty under all circumstances, we demand the immediate release of all detainees, especially children and adolescents, and we condemn sham trials and forced confessions.

We reject all foreign military intervention and bombardment, and we stand against all forms of repression and violence.

The dismantling of the Islamic Republic can only, and must only, be carried out by the people of Iran.

No to war,No to executions,No to repression.

Yes to women,Yes to life,Yes to freedom.

Jin, Jiyan, Azadi, forever.