Surveillance Drone Flies Over Baluch Homes During Protest Against Wall Construction in Konb, Chabahar; At Least Four Residents Arrested

iranpolitprisoners
3 days ago
2 min read

On Monday, 17 Azar 1404, as authorities continued the construction of concrete walls surrounding residential homes in the Konb area of Chabahar, a group of local Baluch residents gathered at the project site to protest the enclosure of their neighborhoods and the lack of response to their long-standing demands.

During the protest, a surveillance drone flew at low altitude over residential houses and directly above the protesters. Videos and images sent by citizens show the drone hovering over homes and the gathering, with its sound clearly audible. One resident described the situation, saying, “Instead of listening to the people, they sent a drone over our heads.”

According to local sources, the drone flight took place precisely while residents were protesting the wall construction. Locals described the move as aerial monitoring and said it intensified feelings of fear, intimidation, and insecurity among the community.

Residents expressed frustration over years of neglect, noting that they had received neither public services nor property deeds nor official responses. One citizen said in a video, “They have trapped us inside four walls, and no one tells us what will happen to us next.”

At the same time as the protest, military and plainclothes forces arrested at least four Baluch citizens. The identities of two of the detainees—Abdolsalam Malek-Raeisi and Zubair Podat—have been confirmed, while the identities and conditions of the other two remain unknown.

Local sources say these actions are part of an ongoing process that began on Thursday, 13 Azar, when Housing Foundation forces entered the area accompanied by military and plainclothes agents. This has heightened concerns over the possible demolition of long-standing Baluch settlements and attempts to alter the region’s demographic composition.

From a legal and humanitarian perspective, the use of surveillance drones over residential areas and peaceful protest sites constitutes a violation of privacy, escalates an atmosphere of intimidation, and contradicts principles of psychological security and basic civil rights. Human rights organizations have also warned against the deployment of advanced surveillance tools against local protesters without transparent and official explanations.