Number of Balochs arrested in Zahedan rises to at least 26
Hengaw: Sunday, April 20, 2025
With the confirmed identities of 14 additional detainees from Zahedan, Sistan and Baluchestan province, the number of people arrested in recent days has risen to at least 26.
Hengaw has identified the newly arrested Balochs as Dost Mohammad Mohammadzahi, Hematollah Mohammadzahi, Kambiz Mohammadzahi, Benyamin Mohammadzahi, Khodabakhsh Mohammadzahi, and Naser Shahbakhsh, Mohammadamin Qanbarzahi, Ahmad Qanbarzahi, Davud Shahbakhsh (Qanbarzahi), Aslam Shahbakhsh (Qanbarzahi), Abdollah Shahbakhsh (Qanbarzahi), Omar Shahbakhsh (Qanbarzahi), Isa Shahbakhsh (Qanbarzahi), and Zaman Shahbakhsh (Qanbarzahi).
According to reports received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, in the early hours of Friday, April 18, 2025, security forces detained five residents of Sournai village in the Kourin district of Zahedan, as well as nine others from Chah Ahmad village.
Additionally, twelve more residents of Chah Ahmad, Esmailabad, Sournai, and Qal’ebid villages in Zahedan were detained. Their names include:
Hassan Nasiri Motlagh (Qanbarzahi), 15 years old; a 16-year-old child and his father, Akbar Shahbakhsh, 45; Aziz Nasiri Motlagh, 43; Nejat Qanbarzahi, 35, and his nephew Shirmohammad Nasiri Motlagh; Atamohammad Nasiri Motlagh; Eshaq Qanbarzahi; Vahid Shahbakhsh; Morteza Qanbarzahi; and Aref Shahbakhsh, 19.
According to the Haalvsh news outlet, Aref (Mohsen) Shahbakhsh suffers from autism, and concerns have been raised regarding his wellbeing in detention.
Government forces surrounded these villages, raided homes without presenting judicial warrants, and conducted widespread searches.
Simultaneously, an armed confrontation occurred in the Sournai village, during which a Baloch man named Valimohammad Mohammadzahi, son of Sohrab, was killed by a drone strike carried out by Iranian military forces.
During the clash, a member of the IRGC, identified as Eshaq Mokhtari, was killed, and at least three other IRGC personnel were injured.
As of now, no detailed information is available regarding the charges, reasons for arrest, or whereabouts of the detainees.
