IRAN. TWO BALUCHI ACTIVISTS EXECUTED IN IRAN

August 5, 2008: Yaghub Mehrnahad, a 28 year old Baluchi journalist, human rights and cultural activist, has been hanged in a prison in Zahedan, Iran, Etemad Melli newspaper reported without saying when the execution took place. He has been executed along side another Baluchi man named Abdolnasser Taherisadr. Mehrnahad had criticised the Iranian government's treatment of Baluchi people. A number of organisations, including Amnesty International, had called on the Iranian government to halt execution proceedings. Mehrnahad was the founder of Anjoman Javanane Sedaye Edalat (the Voice of the youth Justice Association), an NGO that organises events such as music concerts and educational courses for young Baluchi. A New York-based rights group, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, said Mirnehad was targeted because he ran a charity focused on improving childhood education in Iran and, as part of that work, had criticized local government officials.
In May 2007, Yaghub Mehrnahad and five other members of the Voice of Justice Association were kidnapped and detained by Iranian security forces. They alleged he was guilty of being a member of the Jundallah terrorist group and declaring war against God. He was subjected to torture for several months before being executed. Ebrahim Mehrnahad, Mehrnahad’s 16 year old brother has been arrested. (Sources: Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation, 11/08/2008; ANSA and AFP, 05/08/2008, St Louis Today, 06/08/2008, Iran watch Canada, 18/08/2008)