Baloch religious prisoner Rostam Zeinaldini and another prisoner executed in Zahedan Central Prison

Hengaw: Saturday, April 26, 2025

The death sentences of Rostam Zeinaldini, a 30-year-old Baloch religious prisoner known as “Haji Gol,” and Abdolsamad Shahbazi, convicted on drug-related charges, were carried out at Zahedan Central Prison.

According to reports received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, the executions took place at dawn on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Zeinaldini, a resident of Lashar in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, was arrested two years ago by security forces on charges of “collaborating with Jaish al-Adl.” Deprived of access to independent legal counsel, he was swiftly sentenced to death.

Hengaw strongly condemns the executions, emphasizing that Iran’s systematic use of the death penalty, particularly against national/ethnic and religious minorities, constitutes a serious violation of its international human rights obligations.

According to the Haalvsh news outlet, Zeinaldini was subjected to severe torture during detention, leading to forced confessions, which he later retracted after being transferred to prison.

Simultaneously, Abdolsamad Shahbazi (Barichi), a 28-year-old prisoner convicted on drug-related charges, was also executed at the same facility.