Baloch Activist Criticizes Judiciary Over Handling of Pahra Child Murder Case

DOZAAP, BALOCHISTAN: Civil rights activist Samad Rigi has sharply criticized the Balochistan judiciary over its handling of the case involving the murder of five-year-old Yousef Shahli-bor, calling official statements “contradictory to the facts of the case.”

The controversy follows comments by Ali Mohammadi-Rad, head of the Judiciary in Iranian Occupied Balochistan, who asserted that the case “is being decisively handled by the military prosecutor’s office” and denied reports of verdicts, acquittals, or case closure. Mohammadi-Rad added that a previously issued dismissal order pertained to “other sections of the case” and was not related to the child’s murder.

Rigi, citing the official verdict sent to Yousef’s father on November 5, 2025, rejected these claims, stating that the dismissal order directly concerns the portions of the case connected to the child’s death. “The verdict is an official document registered in the judiciary system; authorities cannot dismiss it as fake, mistaken, or insignificant,” Rigi said.

He further accused the judiciary of attempting to “manage public sensitivity” while ignoring the core issue: the issuance of a ruling that contradicts both the confessions of law enforcement officers and evidence collected at the scene. Lawyers reviewing the case also noted that the prosecutor acted simultaneously as investigator and decision-maker, a move Rigi described as a “clear violation of due process.”

Rigi highlighted that the dismissal order conflicts with officers’ admissions that “shots were fired and the responsible officer was detained.” He added, “We are not saying all officers are guilty, but the officer who fired the shots must be held accountable.”

The case dates back to the evening of February 25, 2025, when law enforcement officers opened fire on a family vehicle in Pahra (Iranshahr). Five-year-old Yousef Shahli-bor was fatally wounded, and his pregnant mother was injured, ultimately losing her unborn child.

Following public outcry, the Zahedan Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor announced the arrest of nine officers linked to the incident, while Rahmdel Bamri, then-member of parliament for Iranshahr, confirmed the arrest of an additional officer, bringing the total to ten.

A report by the newspaper Etemad noted that six bullets struck Yousef’s vital organs and highlighted the role of inadequate medical facilities at Iranshahr Hospital in his death.

Rights advocates and local observers say the case underscores longstanding concerns over judicial accountability and due process in the handling of violent incidents involving Iran’s law enforcement in Iranian Occupied Balochistan.