Iranian security forces executed Masoud Shahbakhsh, a Baloch prisoner from Cheshmeh Ziarat district, at Zahedan Central Prison in Western Balochistan on Wednesday. He had been arrested three years ago on murder charges and was sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court of Zahedan.
Activists allege that Masoud’s death sentence was carried out without family consent and that the murder he was convicted had occurred unintentionally. However, the execution was carried out despite these claims.
This execution marks a concerning trend in Western Balochistan, with a reported total of at least 61 Baloch prisoners, including four women, being hanged in 14 prisons across Iran since April 29, 2023.
Just two days prior to Masoud’s execution, the discovery of two dead bodies in Western Balochistan added to the mystery and raised further questions about the situation in the region. The mounting death toll and the circumstances surrounding these executions raise significant concerns.