The Second Suspect in the Rape Case in Iranshahr Has Been Arrested

Judicial officials in Sistan and Baluchestan province, Iran, have reported the arrest of the second suspect in a kidnapping and rape case in Iranshahr. Ali Mohammadi Rad, the public and revolutionary prosecutor of Zahedan, stated that this suspect was handed over to judicial authorities on Thursday, June 31, 'with the cooperation of the elders and trusted individuals of Delgan county.' So far, conflicting statistics have been published regarding the number of women and girls from Iranshahr who have fallen victim to these suspects. The Sunni Imam of Iranshahr announced during the Eid al-Fitr sermon this year that the suspects had raped 41 girls, which provoked anger from the Attorney General of the country, who called it 'baseless' and 'false' and threatened that the Imam would face legal action. Judicial officials in Sistan and Baluchestan also state that there are three victims. According to the Zahedan prosecutor, currently three individuals have filed complaints 'under the title of kidnapping and gang rape,' with 'one of them being raped last December, another in May, and the third in June.' From the statements of this judicial official, it appears that there are four suspects in this case, of which two have been arrested so far. Mr. Mohammadi Rad stated about the arrest of these two individuals: 'The first suspect in this case was arrested immediately after a complaint was filed by one plaintiff last week and handed over to judicial authorities. [The second suspect] introduced himself to the Funoj court with the cooperation of the elders, the head of the Funoj court, and his family to then be sent for investigation to the Iranshahr prosecutor's office.' The Zahedan prosecutor ultimately emphasized that two other suspects in the case have also been 'identified and are being pursued.' On Thursday, the head of the judiciary in Sistan and Baluchestan also reported the arrest of two individuals in connection with this case. According to Ebrahim Hamidi, one of these two arrested individuals is accused of supplying weapons to those involved in this case, and the second is accused of 'inciting youth.' Mr. Hamidi stated: 'The individual arrested in Iranshahr was in the process of documenting a gathering of some residents of Iranshahr for exploitation by foreign media regarding this incident, and based on investigations, the brother of this suspect is active in foreign media.' A number of Iranshahr residents gathered in front of the governor's office on Sunday, demanding punishment for those responsible for the rapes of girls in this region, which is referred to by the judicial official in Sistan and Baluchestan. Based on reports from IRNA news agency and Radio Farda website.