Reported by the Balochistan Human Rights Group – December 15, 2025,
The horrific killing of Mohammad Khaleqi, a 13-year-old Baloch child in the city of Chabahar, has once again highlighted the alarming state of child safety and the grave violation of the right to life in Sistan and Balochistan province. The child went missing on Thursday, December 11, 2025, at around 6:00 p.m., after leaving his home to buy bread. Despite his family’s immediate appeals to the public for help and the official report of his disappearance, no effective or urgent action by the relevant authorities was reported.
On the evening of Saturday, December 13, 2025, after two days of public searches, Mohammad’s lifeless body was discovered by local residents on the outskirts of Chabahar. Initial findings indicate that his body had been doused with gasoline and set on fire, and that he had suffered deep cuts to various parts of his body, including the neck and abdomen. His body was transferred to the Legal Medicine Organization for autopsy.
Mohammad Khaleqi came from a low-income family, originally from the village of Motsang in Nikshahr and residing in Chabahar. His family has stated that they had no known disputes or conflicts with anyone, and as of the time of this report, neither the identity nor the motive of the perpetrator or perpetrators has been determined.
This brutal killing has sparked widespread fear, anger, and concern among the people of Balochistan. Social activists and local residents have pointed out that despite the extensive presence of surveillance cameras throughout the city of Chabahar, serious shortcomings remain in preventive security measures and in the rapid response to cases of missing persons and violent crimes.
In reaction to this crime, a Baloch social media blogger described the killing as a sign of the collapse of humanity and collective conscience, emphasizing that no justification—under any circumstances—can excuse the murder and burning of a child’s body. He called on security, political, and executive authorities in the province to address the case transparently and urgently, and to take concrete steps to prevent the continued cycle of violence against children.
The killing of Mohammad Khaleqi did not occur in isolation. According to collected reports, at least 469 Baloch citizens were targeted in armed attacks by unknown assailants during 2024 alone. Among them were at least 47 women and children. These alarming figures reflect a persistent pattern of violence, insecurity, and impunity for perpetrators in Balochistan.
This report also recalls the deaths of other children in recent years, including those killed by direct gunfire or other forms of uncontrolled violence, for which no transparent or satisfactory accountability has been provided by the authorities. The continuation of this situation sends a clear message to society: the lives of Baloch children have been marginalized, and justice has been systematically delayed.
Mohammad Khaleqi’s family and relatives have emphasized their demand for justice, calling on the public, civil society actors, and relevant institutions not to allow this case to be forgotten. They are demanding the identification, arrest, and fair prosecution of those responsible for this crime, as well as concrete guarantees for the safety of children in Chabahar and across Balochistan.
The Balochistan Human Rights Group stresses that the brutal killing of a child constitutes a blatant violation of the right to life, security, and human dignity. Silence or inaction in the face of such crimes amounts to complicity in the continuation of violence. Without independent, transparent investigations and real accountability, the risk of such tragedies recurring remains high. Today his name is Mohammad Khaleqi; if this cycle is not broken, tomorrow only the names will change.
