A/HRC/22/56 in State bodies.59 It has also been reported that the linguistic rights of the Balochi are undermined by the systematic rejection of Balochi-language publications, and limitations on the public and private use of their native languages, in contravention of article 15 of the Constitution and article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Moreover, the application of the Gozinesh criterion, which requires State officials and employees to demonstrate allegiance to Islam and to the concept of velayat-e faqih (guardianship of the Islamic jurist) further compounds their socioeconomic predicament by limiting employment opportunities. 60 54. Accounts of the destruction of Sunni mosques and religious schools, and allegations of the imprisonment and assassination of Sunni clerics, have also been reported. Baloch activists have reportedly been subject to arbitrary arrests and torture. The Sistan-Balochistan province experiences a high rate of executions for drug-related offences or crimes deemed to constitute Moharebeh (“enmity against god”) in the absence of fair trials.61 Allegations were also received that the Government used the death penalty as a means to suppress opposition in the province.62 In a plea to the international community, the Balochistan People’s Party reported that two Baloch prisoners in Zahidan Prison had been sentenced to death following a demonstration in Rask City and other towns in Sarbaz in May 2012. Political prisoners in the detention centre who protested against the death sentences were reportedly punished by exile.63 55. Reports were also received that netizen Abdol Basit Rigi and political activists Abdoljalil Rigi and Yahyaa Charizahi had been charged with Moharebeh and sentenced to death following forced confessions. Abdol Basit Rigi had been arrested three years earlier, reportedly kept in solitary confinement for 11 months and tortured. It is furthermore reported that the activists were transferred to solitary confinement in the Ministry for Intelligence two days before their execution, where they were subjected to violent torture and forced to record a televised confession.64 H. Religious minorities 56. The Special Rapporteur remains deeply concerned at the situation of human rights of religious minorities in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Reports from and interviews with members of the Baha’i, Christian and Sunni Muslim communities continue to depict a situation in which adherents of recognized and unrecognized religions face discrimination in law and/or in practice, including various degrees of intimidation, arrest and detention. A number of interviewees stated that they had been repeatedly interrogated about their religious 59 60 61 62 63 64 Iran: submission to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 49th session, Amnesty International. Available from www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cescr/docs/ngos/AI_CESCRWG49_Iran.pdf. See Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization, submission to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (available from www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cescr/docs/ngos/UNPO_IranWG49.pdf). and Religious Discrimination and Injustice To Ahlesunnat (Geneva July 22 2012), Nasser Nabatzahi (available from www.ostomaan.org/ articles/human-rights/13351). “Iran executions send a chilling message”, Amnesty International, 30 March 2010. Available from www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/iran-executions-send-chilling-message-2010-03-30. “Balochistan: Urgent Appeal to Stop Mass Arrests and Executions”, Unrepresented nations and Peoples Organization, 26 October 2012. Available from www.unpo.org/article/15045. www.ostomaan.org/articles/human-rights/14422. “Iran Executes Three Baluch Political Prisoners”, Balochistan Peoples Party, 23 October 2012. Available from http://eng.balochpeople.org/articles/human-rights/411. 17