According to the Balochistan Human Rights Group, today, Sunday, October 19, 2025, Mullah Kamal Salahzehi, a respected community elder, social activist, and influential Baloch figure known for his efforts in promoting peace and reconciliation among tribes, was assassinated by unidentified armed assailants in the city of Iranshahr.
Reports indicate that Mullah Kamal was traveling with his son and driver in the Ajeriha (Sacred Defense) roundabout area when their vehicle came under fire. Mullah Kamal was killed instantly, his son was seriously wounded, and one of his companions survived the attack.
Mullah Kamal Salahzehi, a native of Gurnag village in Sarbaz County, had long been known as a critic and opponent of the Islamic Republic of Iran during the 1980s and 1990s. He had reportedly been targeted multiple times by state security agencies seeking to eliminate him.
In November 1999, Iranian military forces launched a large-scale operation on Gurnag village in an attempt to arrest him. The operation failed after armed resistance by local residents, resulting in the deaths of several government soldiers. Following the failed raid, the military carried out aerial bombardments of the village. Remnants of that attack remain visible to this day, with many homes still unrepaired.
Despite his history of opposition to the Iranian government, in recent years Mullah Kamal had dedicated himself to peacebuilding, successfully mediating dozens of tribal and local disputes. He was widely regarded as a key figure in maintaining social harmony and stability across the region.
Given his long record of threats and previous assassination attempts by Iranian security forces, his family, local residents, and Baloch activists hold the Islamic Republic’s security institutions responsible—directly or indirectly—for his killing. The Balochistan Human Rights Group calls for an independent and impartial international investigation into this assassination.
