559 Days of Uncertainty for Baloch Citizen in Zahedan Central Prison

DOZZAAP (Zahedan): A Baluch citizen, Obaidullah Hammali, has been held in Zahedan Central Prison for 559 days, enduring prolonged uncertainty over his legal status. Arrested on October 10, 2023, during a military raid on his residence, Hammali’s situation has been further complicated by injuries sustained during his detention, including a severe leg fracture.

Hammali, a resident of the village of Hamont in Mehrestan, suffered multiple injuries when security forces raided his home, and his leg was broken in the process. Despite the grave condition of his injury, medical care was delayed. After being transferred to Zahedan, his condition worsened due to a severe infection, but local doctors refused to treat him, directing that only a physician from Iranshahr, where his injury had been initially treated, could continue his care.

Following months of medical neglect, Hammali was eventually moved back to Iranshahr, where he received the necessary surgical intervention. On May 11, 2024, after being transferred to Khatam Hospital, he underwent surgery to insert a metal plate in his leg. However, despite the medical procedure, Hammali was swiftly returned to Zahedan Central Prison after his recovery.

Now, 559 days into his detention, Hammali remains in a state of legal limbo. The authorities have not disclosed the formal charges against him, leaving his family and human rights organisations in the dark. Despite paying bribes to prison officials, his family is only allowed to visit him intermittently, and they are still uncertain of his fate.

The situation has sparked outrage among human rights advocates, who criticize both the detention conditions and the treatment of detainees. The Baluch Activists Campaign, which has been following Hammali’s case, has raised alarm about the continued violations of his rights, emphasising the ongoing physical and psychological toll that prolonged detention and neglect are having on him.

Hammali’s case highlights broader concerns regarding the treatment of subjugated nations under Iran’s occupation, particularly those from Balochistan, where reports of arbitrary arrests, torture, and the denial of basic rights are all too common.

As of now, there is no information about the charges against Obaidullah Hammali, and his family continues to advocate for his release and for transparency in his case.