In the 36th consecutive Friday of protests against the Islamic Republic in Zahedan, security forces arrested dozens of teenagers and young men in the restive city.

Since protests started nine months ago following the death of Mahsa Amini in custody of hijab police, the regime forces have repeatedly arrested Baluch citizens in large numbers as they kept their street protests alive.

Haalvsh website, which covers the events in Sistan-Baluchestan province, reported that only the identities of a small number of those arrested on Friday, June 9,have been revealed so far, but most of them were under 18.

The campaign of Baluch activists quoted an informed source as saying that plainclothes agents raided and detained these young men as they were returning home after the Friday prayers.

According to Haalvsh, the reason behind their arrests and their whereabouts are not known yet.

The people of Zahedan have been protesting every Friday since September 30, when security forces opened fire on civilians, killing about 90 protesters.

As Sunni Muslims, Baluch citizens are both an ethnic and religious minority. Estimates of the Iranian Baluch population range from 1.5 to 2 million people. The Baluch community – along with the Kurds -- has always been among the most persecuted minorities and has the largest number of people executed in the country.

Most Baluchis are executed over drug-related charges, but activists say their trials lack due process and poverty-stricken drug mules are often executed without having proper legal representation.