Three Accused in Hamidiyeh Police Station Attack Executed

The Public Relations Office of the Judiciary of Khuzestan Province has reported the execution of three individuals accused of participating in several "terrorist operations" in this province. According to Young Journalists Club, Abdolhamid Amanat Behbahani, the Deputy for Social Affairs and Crime Prevention of the Khuzestan Judiciary, announced the execution of these individuals on Wednesday, August 17. Amanat Behbahani stated that these individuals were the main suspects in the case of the "terrorist attack in Hamidiyeh" and had also participated in several operations in Farvardin 1394 (March-April 2015). Other charges against these three include "creating terror and panic," "destroying the seismic center of the Hamidiyeh region," and "attacking the نور caravan." This judicial official also announced that "prison sentences have been issued for the other defendants." Local media previously identified these three individuals as "Qais Obeidavi," his brother "Ahmad Obeidavi," and their cousin "Sajad Obeidavi." Mohammad Halafi and Mehdi Siyahi are other defendants in this case, each sentenced to 35 years in prison in Yazd, while other defendants named Mehdi Moarebi and Ali Obeidavi were each sentenced to 25 years in prison. The death sentences for these three Arab-speaking citizens were confirmed by the Iranian Supreme Court in July this year for their involvement in the attack in Farvardin 1394 on the police station in Gamboo'eh Park located on the Ahvaz-Hamidiyeh road. Gholamhossein Mohseni Eje'i, the spokesperson for the judiciary, had stated at the time that these individuals were "responsible for the murder of five people," while the Deputy for Social Affairs and Crime Prevention of the Khuzestan Judiciary mentioned that they were involved in the murder of "three police personnel." The "Human Rights Organization of Ahvaz" had previously issued a statement claiming that the Ahvaz Intelligence Organization attributed the murder of a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which occurred over five years ago, to these three individuals. The responsibility for the armed attack on the police station on Farvardin 13, 1394 (April 2, 2015) was claimed by the "Arab Liberation Movement of Ahvaz," led by an individual named "Rafiq Habib Jabr." This group also claimed responsibility for the explosion of an oil pipeline near Behbahan last year.