Balochistan: Baloch Leader Forcibly Disappeared After Being Summoned by Court

DOZZAAP (ZAHEDAN): Haji Hameed Gamshadzaei, a prominent Baloch tribal leader, was arrested by Iranian forces on January 29, 2025, after being summoned to Branch 6 of the Revolutionary Court in Zahedan, according to the Baloch Activists Campaign.

The reason for his arrest remains unclear, and the circumstances surrounding it have sparked concern among local communities.

Sources reported that he was called to the court by phone. After spending several hours there, he was arrested by military personnel and taken to an undisclosed location.

The arrest follows Haji Hameed’s outspoken criticism of Iranian military forces in early January.

On January 9, during the funeral of Abdul Jalil Gamshadzaei, a 20-year-old killed by military forces in Golshan, Haji Hameed publicly condemned the actions of military and judicial authorities. He accused them of targeting innocent civilians instead of addressing the real criminals in the region. His remarks, which warned of the consequences of continued violence, have made him a target for the regime.

Addressing the authorities, Haji Hameed had said: “What is your aim? Do you want to make this province unsafe? Is your goal to provide security or to gain positions and promotions? If you were working for security, you would be arresting the real criminals instead of killing innocent people. But you are only exploiting this situation. The people of Balochistan have maintained the security of the region with patience, but if this behaviour continues, you will lose that security. I swear, we can no longer tolerate this.”

In response to his arrest, Baloch tribes across Balochistan, along with those in Baloch-majority areas, have united in a show of solidarity. The tribes have issued a statement condemning the detention, describing it as unjust and lacking legal justification. The statement emphasises that Haji Hameed has been a key figure in fostering unity and stability in the region. The tribes warned that the arrest could exacerbate tensions and instability in an already sensitive time.

The Salaarzaei tribe, alongside 54 other Baloch tribes, has also released a statement denouncing the arrest. They call for Haji Hameed’s immediate and unconditional release, asserting that his imprisonment is not just an injustice to him but to the entire Baloch community. The statement highlights his efforts to address social, economic, and cultural challenges in the region, describing him as a symbol of hope and unity for the people.

The tribes have called on human rights organisations, activists, and the international community to intervene and ensure his release, framing the issue as one that goes beyond individual rights and touches on broader human rights concerns.

The statement concludes by reiterating the natural right to freedom and promising continued efforts until Haji Hameed is freed.

This growing solidarity among the Baloch tribes signals rising frustration with Iranian state’s atrocities against Baloch people and highlights the increasingly vocal opposition to Iran anti-Baloch policies.

The Iranian forces have also recently demolished the houses of several Baloch people in Chabahar and other coastal areas of Iranian Occupied Balochistan in the name of development.