On Wednesday, October 9, 2024, three Baloch prisoners, named “Ahmad Narouei,” “Mohammad Es’haq Zehi,” and “Mehdi Barahouei,” who had previously been sentenced to death, were executed in various prisons in Iran.
Identities of the Prisoners:
- Ahmad Narouei: 33 years old, son of Anwar, from Zahedan.
- Mohammad Es’haq Zehi: 31 years old, son of Yousef, from Zahedan.
- Mehdi Barahouei: Approximately 21 years old (17 years old at the time of arrest), son of Jamagol, from Khash.
Ahmad Narouei and Mohammad Es’haq Zehi were arrested in Tehran in 2020 along with three others on charges related to drug offenses and were sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court. On October 7, 2024, they were transferred from Hall 4, Unit 2 of Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj to solitary confinement for the execution of their death sentences. Their families were able to have a final meeting with them on Tuesday, October 8.
On the same day, Mehdi Barahouei, who had been arrested at the age of 17 on charges of murder during a group fight in Khash, was executed in Zahedan Central Prison. Initially, he was transferred to the Juvenile Correctional Center in Zahedan and after two years, was moved to the central prison, where the Special Juvenile Court of Sistan and Baluchestan sentenced him to Qisas (retribution). It is reported that the murder was unintentional and occurred during a childish dispute with the use of a cold weapon.
Statistics on the Execution of Baloch Prisoners
In 2023, at least 184 Baloch prisoners were executed in 26 cities across Iran on various charges. Zahedan and Birjand prisons recorded the highest number of executions, with 54 and 31 cases respectively. Among those executed, at least four were women.
