Hamidreza Kouhkan and Three Baloch Citizens Sentenced to Combined 17 Years

Branch 103 of Criminal Court Two of Zahedan issued heavy prison sentences for Hamidreza Kouhkan, Mohammad Khoroot Din-Mohammadi, Ahmadali Kouhkan, and Khaled Kashani in connection with events following Zahedan’s Bloody Friday

Iran Human Rights Society, Tuesday, September 1, 2026 – Branch 103 of Criminal Court Two of Zahedan, presided over by Judge Mehdi Jalilifar, sentenced Hamidreza Kouhkan and three other Baloch citizens to a combined total of 17 years and one day of discretionary imprisonment on charges of “participation in intentional destruction of public and government property.” The execution of two years and one day of this punishment, issued for Khaled Kashani, has been suspended for a period of three years.

Hamidreza Kouhkan, Mohammad Khoroot Din-Mohammadi (known as Haris Khoroot), and Ahmadali Kouhkan were each sentenced to five years of discretionary imprisonment, accounting for prior detention time. Khaled Kashani was also initially sentenced to five years in prison, but the court reduced his punishment to two years and one day and suspended the execution of the entire sentence for three years.

These four citizens were previously arrested in separate cases connected to Zahedan protests and events following “Zahedan’s Bloody Friday.” The new court judgment was issued on August 23, 2026, and is subject to appeal within 20 days of official notification in the Appeals Court of Sistan and Baluchestan Province.

Details of the Four Conviction Cases

Case Formation Based on Intelligence Department Report

In the workflow section of the judgment, it is stated that the case was formed following reports by the General Intelligence Directorate of Sistan and Baluchestan and law enforcement agents. After conducting investigations and issuing an indictment by the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutorial Office of Zahedan, the case was forwarded to Branch 103 of Criminal Court Two for adjudication.

The main subject of the case is designated as destruction of public and government property, including municipality signs. The court wrote that upon reviewing case documents, agents’ reports, defendants’ statements, and their defense presentations, it established the charges and issued prison sentences.

In addition to participation in destroying public property, Khaled Kashani was charged with “aiding in the intentional destruction of a banner depicting the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic and arson of public and government places.” Citing his lack of effective criminal record and predicting his reform, the court reduced the five-year punishment.

Based on the judgment, if Khaled Kashani commits one of the intentional crimes entailing Hadd, Qisas, Diyah, or discretionary punishment up to Degree 7 during the three-year suspension period, the suspension order will be revoked and the two-year and one-day prison sentence will be executed.

Detention Background and Torture of Hamidreza Kouhkan

Hamidreza Kouhkan was arrested on February 6, 2024, along with his wife Arezoo Narouei and two other individuals by Intelligence Department forces. After nearly two months of detention in the Intelligence detention center, he was transferred to Central Zahedan Prison.

Based on previous reports regarding the torture and transfer of Hamidreza Kouhkan, he was subjected to severe torture during interrogation; his rib was broken, leaving him unable to stand on his feet for a period. These pressures were applied to extract forced confessions against himself.

Following his transfer, Hamidreza Kouhkan also faced deprivation of phone calls and family visitation. Another report on Hamidreza Kouhkan’s dire situation in Zahedan Prison noted hand infection and deteriorating physical condition under substandard hygienic conditions.

Mohammad Khoroot Din-Mohammadi: Arrested Under the Age of 18

Mohammad Khoroot Din-Mohammadi, known as Haris Khoroot, was born in 2007/2008. He was also arrested on February 6, 2024, by Intelligence Department forces, at which time he was under 18 years of age. He was released on bail after a period of detention.

His name was later placed among five citizens summoned to the Sixth Interrogation Branch of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutorial Office of Zahedan. At that stage, charges including “destruction of government property,” “membership in opposing groups,” and “propaganda activity against the system” were raised. In this new judgment, the court sentenced him to five years in prison.

Ahmadali Kouhkan: Wounded of Zahedan’s Bloody Friday

Ahmadali Kouhkan is among the wounded of Zahedan’s Bloody Friday on September 30, 2022. During shooting by government forces, he was wounded by two live bullets in the hip and back near the spinal cord. One bullet remains inside his body, and extracting the other bullet carried the risk of losing his leg.

After filing a complaint against military forces for shooting Baloch citizens, he was arrested on April 7, 2024, after being summoned to the Intelligence Department. Ahmadali Kouhkan was subjected to physical and psychological torture during detention and was finally released on May 14, 2024, on a 2 billion Toman bail.

Now in this same case, he has been sentenced to five years in prison. Ahmadali Kouhkan’s family is unable to cover lawyer fees for pursuing the appeal stage due to financial difficulties; a situation that severely obstructs his right to an effective defense.

Legal Review of Hamidreza Kouhkan’s Case Based on Domestic Laws

The laws of the dictatorship ruling Iran in past years have been criticized repeatedly due to conflict with standards of fair trial, ambiguity in security cases, and restricting defendants’ rights. Reviewing the case of Hamidreza Kouhkan and three other Baloch citizens based on domestic laws does not mean confirmation of these laws; the goal is to show instances where even these same laws were not observed.

Legal Ambiguities of the Case

The primary basis for forming the case was the report of the Intelligence Department and agents. Simultaneously, records of torture against Hamidreza Kouhkan and Ahmadali Kouhkan, extraction of forced confessions, detention of Mohammad Khoroot Din-Mohammadi under age 18, and the inability of Ahmadali Kouhkan’s family to afford a lawyer raise serious questions regarding trial credibility and effective defense.

Related Legal Articles

• Article 32 of the Constitution: Arrest must be carried out in accordance with law and accompanied by immediate notification of charges.

• Article 35 of the Constitution: The defendant has the right to possess a lawyer.

• Article 37 of the Constitution: Presumption of innocence prevails unless proven in a competent court.

• Article 38 of the Constitution: Torture to extract confessions or information is prohibited.

• Article 39 of the Constitution: Violation of honor and dignity of arrested and imprisoned individuals is prohibited.

• Article 190 of the Code of Criminal Procedure: Recognizes the right to have a lawyer present during preliminary investigations.

Cases of Law Violation

• Torture and exertion of pressure to extract forced confessions;

• Restricting Hamidreza Kouhkan’s contact and family visitation rights;

• Ambiguity regarding the extent of the sentence’s reliance on security agency reports;

• Non-observance of special guarantees regarding detention of individuals under age 18;

• Creation of financial barriers hindering Ahmadali Kouhkan’s access to an effective defense;

• Disregard for physical conditions and medical needs of convicts.

Reviewing the Case from the Perspective of Human Rights and Violation of International Standards

Fair trial, prohibition of torture, access to legal counsel, and special protections during the detention of individuals under age 18 are fundamental human rights. The detention and torture records of convicts in this case create serious concern regarding the observance of these rights.

Human Rights Ambiguities of the Case

Extracting confessions under torture, deprivation of family contact, inadequate medical care, and unequal access to legal representation are incompatible with fair trial principles. Additionally, the arrest of Mohammad Khoroot Din-Mohammadi during his adolescence highlights the necessity of fully observing established child protections.

Related International Documents

• Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Prohibition of torture and degrading treatment.

• Articles 9 and 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Prohibition of arbitrary arrest and right to a fair trial.

• Articles 7, 9, and 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Prohibition of torture and guarantees for liberty, security, and fair trials.

• Articles 37 and 40 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child: Special protection for individuals under age 18 in detention and criminal justice proceedings.

The issuance of these heavy sentences represents a continuation of judicial and security pressures on Baloch citizens following Zahedan’s Bloody Friday. The outcome of the appeal stage, particularly considering records of torture and restricted legal access, carries decisive importance for the fate of Hamidreza Kouhkan and other convicts in this case.

See also the below articles:

• Supreme Court Confirms Death Sentence for Ali-Asghar Peyghambari
• Shahin Zoghi-Tabar Sentenced to New Prison Term in Evin

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