An imprisoned Baloch girl from Western Balochistan named Faiza Brahui has been released on bail from Zahedan’s central jail after more than 40 days. Faiza Brahui was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months of imprisonment by the Iranian court. She was reportedly accused of her activities against “national integrity”.
“Faiza has been charged with conspiring and raising her voice against national integrity — under these accusations, she has been punished with imprisonment for three years and six months,” the Iranian court order said.
As per Faiza’s lawyer, the request of her family and the lawyer to meet her in jail was denied by Iranian officials. There are reports that the Iranian court had accused and punished Faiza without a fair trial and hearing her lawyer.
It is to be noted that, Faiza Brahui was arrested on October 2, 2022, from Zahedan at the time when a fifteen-year-old girl from Western Balochistan was sexually assaulted by an Iranian police chief during her custody. The incident erupted a series of protests throughout Western Balochistan. This was also the time when Mahsa Amini’s death by the Iranian morality police caused a massive outcry across Iran and abroad.
The sources said that during the protests in Western Balochistan, the Iranian law-enforcement agencies tried to halt the protests by force. According to Amnesty International’s report, 82 protesters were killed during those violent incidents.
Who is Faiza Brahui?
Faiza Brahui according to the Iranian calendar (Ordbehesht) was born on 25th May 1387 in Zahedan. To be remembered, her father was sentenced to death by an Iranian court twelve years earlier. Faiza is the eldest child in her house. Her mother has been traumatized since her arrest.
Along with Faiza, other Baloch girls were also reportedly arrested or disappeared by Iranian security forces. Among those, some were released later, and a few are still in detention.
It is to be mentioned that a week earlier, a delegation from Iran’s Supreme Leader came to Zahedan to meet with grieved families and assured them of the safety of their detained loved ones. A renowned Islamic scholar from Western Balochistan, Maulana Abdul Hameed Baloch along with the grieved families agreed to the negotiations. The Iranian delegation assured that people who have been imprisoned will be released and those who have been killed, the doors of justice will be open for them. As a result of negotiations, Iranian authorities have released 38 people so far.