Iran hangs brother of key terror organizer
Source: Agencies |
May 25, 2010, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
IRAN yesterday executed a brother of the detained leader of a Sunni Muslim rebel group behind the deadliest bomb attack in the Islamic Republic in years.
Abdolhamid Rigi, a convicted member of Jundollah (God's Soldiers), was hanged in a prison in the southeastern city of Zahedan, after his execution was postponed last July and again in December in order to get more information from him.
Predominantly Shi'ite Muslim Iran seized his brother, Jundollah leader Abdolmalek Rigi, in February - four months after the group claimed a bombing which killed dozens of people, including senior officers of the elite Revolutionary Guards.
Iranian officials said Jundollah had links to Sunni Islamist al-Qaida and support from Pakistan, Britain and the United States.
London, Washington and Islamabad deny backing it.
Many minority Sunnis live in Sistan-Baluchestan, an impoverished area in southeast Iran, near Pakistan and Afghanistan, where there has been an increase in recent years in bombings and clashes between security forces, ethnic Baluch Sunni insurgents and drug traffickers.
Iranian officials said security and economic activity had improved in the region since the leader's arrest.
Families of Jundollah victims were present at yesterday's execution to help "alleviate their pain," said a judiciary official.
State Press TV said Abdolhamid Rigi was charged with bombings, armed robbery and drug trafficking. It showed a picture of a bearded, young man on its Website.
"Confessions made by Abdolhamid confirmed reports that Washington aided and abetted the armed separatist ring in carrying out its terror activities in Iran," it said.
Iran hanged 13 Jundollah members last July and one in November over terrorism.
Abdolhamid Rigi, a convicted member of Jundollah (God's Soldiers), was hanged in a prison in the southeastern city of Zahedan, after his execution was postponed last July and again in December in order to get more information from him.
Predominantly Shi'ite Muslim Iran seized his brother, Jundollah leader Abdolmalek Rigi, in February - four months after the group claimed a bombing which killed dozens of people, including senior officers of the elite Revolutionary Guards.
Iranian officials said Jundollah had links to Sunni Islamist al-Qaida and support from Pakistan, Britain and the United States.
London, Washington and Islamabad deny backing it.
Many minority Sunnis live in Sistan-Baluchestan, an impoverished area in southeast Iran, near Pakistan and Afghanistan, where there has been an increase in recent years in bombings and clashes between security forces, ethnic Baluch Sunni insurgents and drug traffickers.
Iranian officials said security and economic activity had improved in the region since the leader's arrest.
Families of Jundollah victims were present at yesterday's execution to help "alleviate their pain," said a judiciary official.
State Press TV said Abdolhamid Rigi was charged with bombings, armed robbery and drug trafficking. It showed a picture of a bearded, young man on its Website.
"Confessions made by Abdolhamid confirmed reports that Washington aided and abetted the armed separatist ring in carrying out its terror activities in Iran," it said.
Iran hanged 13 Jundollah members last July and one in November over terrorism.
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