Balochistan: Iran arrests Baloch activist who voiced in support of rape victims

ZAHEDAN: The Iranian secret services (Etla’at) have arrested and imprisoned a Baloch activist for raising voice against the rape of girls by a state-supported gang in Pahra city of Iranian occupied Balochistan.

Abdullah Burozgzada, a human rights activist, was arrested when he along with his other friends was protesting in front of Governor House in Pahra (Iran Shahr) against the rape of Baloch girls by criminals.

Protests erupted in Iran Shahr after a local religious scholar informed the public that a Baloch girl has complained that some men have forcibly put her in their car and later sexually assaulted her.

Three of the criminals have been arrested who reportedly confessed to having raped at least 41 girls.

The Iranian forces and local Mullahs in their efforts to calm the situation have said that so far only three girls have complained to the local authorities and most of the accused have been arrested.

However, the local people of Pahra are continuously insisting that the all of the accused should be arrested and their official supporters should also be arrested, named and shamed.

Sources reported that the victims of Pahra aggression have claimed that they were kidnapped at gunpoint by people who were ‘dressed in law enforcement or military uniforms.’

One of the victims is a 24-year-old or 25-year-old girl, who complained three or four days after the incident and referred to an initial examination and confirmation that the effects of bruising on her body and the tests indicate that she was raped. She said she was returning home the unfortunate incident happened.

Local of the area fear that the victims might be physically eliminated either by state forces or they might commit suicide out of fear because of the traditional stigma attached to rape.

There are also reports that some of the victims were assaulted in the month of May but their families did not report the incidents.