Jundullah/Iranian Press Round up by Booz-Allen Persia House.
Rigi Claims U.S. Assistance to Jundallah
Aryan News - Summary translation by Persia House August 27, 2009
Abdolhamid Rigi, brother of Jundallah leader
In an interview conducted on August 25 in Zahedan, Abdolhamid Rigi, the arrested brother of Jundullah’s Pakistan- based leader Abdolmalek Rigi, publicly remarked that during meetings Abdolmalek had held with a representative of the US government—in both Islamabad and Quetta—the US representative had promised Abdolmalek and Jundullah many types of assistance. This promised assistance included financial help and journalistic coverage via satellite television programs. Abdolhamid noted that parts of Jundullah’s budget had come from the US, and parts of it had been derived from hostage-taking activities and trafficking of narcotics. He identified himself as an uneducated and ignorant individual, who had been born in 1980 in Zahedan, Iran, and had committed numerous criminal acts in the course of his cooperation with Jundullah. With tearful eyes, he asked forgiveness from the families of people killed as a result of his terrorist activities. Abdolhamid commented that until 2004, the various ethnic minorities had lived in peace with each other in Sistan-Baluchestan province. But since then, there has been ethnic and religious fighting among different groups. While calling the US an “enemy of Muslims”, he blamed the US for the ongoing religious and ethnic fighting in the province that had left numerous people dead and injured. He also noted that the main aim of Jundullah was to create religious and ethnic rifts in the country. For the original article in Persian, click here .
Persia House Note:
Abdolhamid Rigi was arrested by Pakistani forces in 2008 and extradited to Iran. He has been sentenced to death by the Islamic Republic for his involvement in various insurgent activities. However, his death sentence has not yet been carried out due to his ongoing intelligence value to the Iranian government. His August 25 inter-view and public confessions are an attempt by the Iranian authorities to discredit Jundullah and blame the US for the group’s ongoing activities in the Sistan-Baluchistan province. Jundullah is a Sunni-based insurgent group that operates mainly in proximity to the Iran-Pakistan border. Its stated objective is to strengthen the status of the Baluch minority within the Islamic Republic.
Persia House News Brief 28
Security Issues
Arrest of Four-Man Jundallah Team In Zahedan (Fars News – Summary translation by Persia House)
August 12 – The Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) announced that it has successfully arrested a four-man team from the terrorist organization Jundullah in Zahedan, and discovered a noticeable amount of arms and explosives in the process. The arrests were made possible by reports from private citizens, the expansion of intelligence networks, and the monitoring of the activities of suspected Jundullah members. According to the MOIS, this team was Official Banner of the MOIS planning to create rifts among the Sunnis and Shiites and carry out bombings in pre-designated locations. For the original article in Persian, click here
Jundullah Chief Expresses Readiness to Negotiate with Iran (Farda News – Summary translation by Persia House)
August 12 – In an interview with Al-Arabiya News Agency, the head of the Sunni-based Jundullah terrorist organization, Abdolmalek Rigi, noted his readiness to begin negotiations with Iran. As Jundullah’s highest-ranking member, he said that if the Iranian government were to identify and nominate a fully authorized official representative for starting a dialogue with the organization, he would welcome that opportunity. Jundullah is interested in establishing a formal dialogue [with Iran] in the presence of internationally recognized parties. Rigi also has asked Iran that, despite Jundullah’s longtime terrorist activities Head of Jundallah, Abdol-Malek Rigi [against Iranian interests], his organization be granted civil rights.
Although he remarked, in response to a question concerning the establishment of an armed group [Jundullah] involved in the kidnapping and murder of the people, that “road to negotiations is open,” Rigi answered that the establishment of such an organization was certainly justified from a religious and rational perspective due to the lack of any other viable options. Although he entertained the idea of negotiations with Iran, Rigi also attacked the Iranian Revolution, labeling it an “ominous revolution.” While persisting on his attacks against the Iranian government, he asked it to recognize his organization as an official party.
Rigi denied any cooperation between Jundullah and Al-Qaeda. He also emphasized the fact that Muslims in general—and Iran’s Sunni population in particular—detest the US due to its hypocritical policies. The issues related to the Sunni people do not have anything to do with the US, and there are no links between the Baluchi people and the US government. Nobody favors the presence of the US and its forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Jundullah does not support the way the US is trying to fight terrorism in the world. In case of a US invasion of Iran, Rigi noted that he would discuss that possibility with his people. However, their fight is not limited to armed struggle only. They have many demands, and it would be possible that they would make the same demands from the US. It would be good if the US guaranteed their rights. Otherwise, the “sword” would decide between them and the Americans.
While conceding that Iran is undoubtedly an important power, Rigi supported the idea of “ends justifying the means.” Although he was located in Pakistan during the interview, he noted that they were trying, to the extent possible, not to cross the Pakistani border, and not to use the territories of any neighboring countries against Iran. He refuted the allegation of moving Iranian hostages to Pakistan, but confessed to training and deploying Jundullah members into Iran since the creation of his movement. He added that the majority of the Iranian people supported his group’s activities, which have led to the killing of many Iranians. The Iranian people’s support for Jundullah is based on their desire for the destruction of the Iranian system of government as well, he added.
Al-Arabiya’s Islamabad Bureau Chief was able to interview Rigi, despite the latter’s being “wanted” by Iran for his terrorist activities, which have led to the killing of ordinary citizens in Iran. For the original article in Persian, click here .
Persia House note : Jundullah is a Sunni-based insurgent group, operating mainly out of Iran’s Sistan and Baluchistan province, that the Islamic Republic has labeled a terrorist group. In recent years, Jundullah has conducted several deadly terrorist operations, mainly in Shiite sites, that have led to numerous deaths and injuries of both government officials and civilians. In response, the Iranian government has arrested a number of Jundullah members, including Abdolhamid Rigi, the brother of the organization’s leader Abdolmalek Rigi (who is now based in Pakistan’s Baluchistan region). Although the Iranian government has sentenced Abdolhamid to death, it has not yet carried out the sentence, likely due to his continuing intelligence value for Iranian officials. Despite the denial by the Chief of the Sistan and Baluchistan Judiciary (in the article below), Abdolmalek's decision to reach out to the Iranian government for negotiations is, in all likelihood, an attempt to save his brother's life. It also points to the possibility of a weakened Jundullah because the organization has, to date, never entertained the idea of negotiating with the Iranian government.
Hamidi: Death Sentence Against Rigi’s Brother Will Not Be Overturned. (Fars News – Summary translation by Persia House)
August 12 – In response to a recent interview by the Jundullah Chief, Abdolmalek Rigi, concerning his readiness to negotiate with Iran, the Chief of the Sistan- Baluchistan Judiciary, Abraham Hamidi, noted that negotiations would take place only if the other party were a recognized entity. The Iranian government does not recognize this individual [Rigi] and his terrorist organization. Abraham denied any possibility that the
Chief of Sistan-Baluchestan Judiciary, Ebrahim death sentence against Rigi’s brother, who is in Iranian Hamidi custody, will be overturned. Abraham also does not think that by proposing negotiations, Rigi is trying to save his brother from being executed. For the original article in Persian, click here .
Discovery of Several Bomb Plots in Sistan and Baluchestan Fars News Agency - Summary translation by Persia House July 22, 2009
According to Ebrahim Hamidi, the Head of the Judiciary in Sistan and Baluchestan province, Iranian authorities have succeeded in discovering and neutralizing several bomb plots as a result of the confessions obtained from the arrested members of the Jundullah terrorist group. These confessions were instrumental in preventing several terrorist plans, and in disco-vering large amounts of explosives in addition to several of the group’s safe-houses. Hamidi added that, although they were prepared to carry out the death sentence against Abdulhamid Rigi—the brother of the Jundullah leader Abdulmalek Rigi—they were still interrogating Abdulhamid to obtain additional information on several ongoing cases and activities of this group. Hamidi noted that in recent weeks, 13 members of the terrorist group have been executed in the Zahedan jail. For the original article in Persian, click here .
Persia House Note:
Jundullah is a Sunni-based Iranian insurgent group with separatist aspirations, operating primarily in the Sistan and Baluchestan province of eastern Iran. The Islamic Republic considers it to be a terrorist organization. Abdulmalek Rigi, the group’s leader, is located in Pakistan, from where he directs terrorist operations inside Iran. Several weeks ago, this group claimed responsibility for the bombing of a Shiite mosque in Zahedan that resulted in the deaths and injuries of several worshippers. In re-sponse to these claims, the Iranian authorities arrested, and subsequently executed, 13 members of the group.
Claimed Transfer of Jundallah Terrorists to Iran by Pakistani Government Tabnak - Summary translation by Persia House May 7, 2009
A number of captured members of the terrorist group Jundallah were trans-ferred to Iran by Pakistan. Announcing the capture of a number of armed insurgents east of Iran in Pakistan, Pakistan’s Am-bassador to Tehran, Mohammadbakhsh Abassi, reported during an interview on a local radio station in southwest Iran that Pakistani security forces had captured a group of terrorists and transferred them to the Islamic Republic. He did not give further information regarding the location of capture or the number of members that had been caught. It is worth mentioning that past Jundallah terrorist activities have included weapons and fuel smuggling, road obstruction, killing travelers in the Tasuki Zabol region, bombing a bus carrying IRGC employees in Zahedan, killing innocent travelers on the Bam highway, exploding a ‘sound bomb’ in front of the Sistan-Baluchistan governorship and gunning down 17 policemen. This report comes after Iran’s announcement in May 2008 on the transfer of nine members of Jundallah by Pakistan. It should not be ignored that, after carrying out each destructive action, the Jundallah terrorists flee feely into Pakistan – an issue about which Iran has protested to the Pakistani government. For the original article in Persian, click here .
Readers’ Comments:
• Good, they got what they deserve….. • Be careful…when John Kerry says “we won’t change the regime” or an Iraqi representative says “Iran needs to leave us alone,” or when Robert Gates tells Arabs “don’t worry, our re-establishing relations with Iran won’t hurt you,” or some election news and such distractions. If anything changes in Pakistan, just imagine 160-170 million people, afraid, scared, hungry and in need of shelter. It is enough if 5-6 million of them start coming this way. Be certain that cost is going to be way much more than any nuclear attack that our enemies constantly threaten us with. In such an event, its long term effect will be much heavier on our society. It will wipe us out completely. • Instead of the blessed title of Jundallah, you should call them ‘Evil’ – like we call the MEK, Monafeghin (Hypocrites) • Not that we did not have enough trouble with narcotic smugglers on the Eastern borders, now terrorists have been added to that!
Sepah Moves to the East of the Country to Position Itself Against Enemy’s Long Term Plan • Farhang News - Summary translation by Persia House • April 20, 2009 • Sardar, Jafar Asadi, Commander of IRGC ground force said: the presence of sepah-e-pasdaran (IRGC) in the Eastern region of the country is because of enemy planning in this area, and if we delay our plans, it will be too late. Borders control is and will be with the Law Enforcement Force (LEF). Rasool Akram base has a duty to support LEF in their boarder-control mission. However, because of some issues in this region, the IRGC has been tasked to tackle these issues. The Islamic regime is facing three types of threats: hard, semi-hard, and soft. In some parts of the country, in spite of mountainous and remote areas, by installing a small device we can find if the enemy is present or not. Today, we are facing a series of plots by the enemy that we must be ready to fight. For example, even in small areas of Iran enemies are creating problems. Therefore, stationing IRGC in eastern region is not (God forbid) to create problems for our Sunni or Balouch citizens. Why, because they continuously support the military. But the enemy is planning in this area and we should be prepared to confront and uproot these criminal countries. All (IRGC) Bases will be under IRGC Ground Force; Qods Base is one of the 10 bases, and without a doubt this force has plans that it will announce at the appropriate time. For the original article in Persian, click here . • Persia House Note: • It is not entirely clear who the “enemy” is – eastern Iran is bordered by Afghanistan and Pakistan; also, Sunni Balouchi tribes (Jundullah group) have been engaged in a long running insurgency against Iranian forces. On the other hand, the Taliban are still considered to be an enemy and have once more become active in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Iran has also been fighting narcotics trafficking in this area since the US invasion of Afghanistan. Lastly, as the US increases its military presence in Afghanistan – Iran could see that as a growing threat as well.
Police Delivers Deadly Blow to Jundollah
Mehr News - Summary translation by Persia House December 22, 2008
Deputy police chief Ahmad Reza Radan said police forces have delivered a deadly blow to the terrorist Jundollah group led by Abdolmalek Rigi. “After three operations against this terrorist group by the police, its senior members have been killed,” Radan told Mehr News Agency on Monday. “During these operations, Abdolmalek’s brother and his deputy, as well as 19 others, have been killed.” Radan added the police have plans for putting an end to the activities of the group. “Moving out and seizing the members of the group are on the agenda.” The Rigi group killed all 14 Iranian soldiers that it took hostage more than six months ago from a checkpoint in the town of Saravan in Sistan- Balouchestan province bordering Pakistan. Jundollah had transferred the hostages to Pakistan after their abduction…The police official also stated that Pakistan is not cooperating with Tehran in tracking the hideouts of the Jundollah group…He warned Pakistan that the activities of this group will harm Pakistan too. “Pakistan should know that sheltering such a group will bring about problems for this country, and the Pakistani government should not allow Pakistan’s land to become a safe refuge for this group.” For the original article, click here .
Persia House Note:
Iran has accused Saudi intelligence agents of facilitating Jundollah’s abduction of Iranian police officers in Sistan- Baluchestan. It also claims that the CIA has provided funds and training to the group.
Iran General Killed in Clashes with Rebels Gulf in the Media September 19, 2008
Four members of the Iranian security forces, including a general, have been killed in clashes with rebels in the southeast, the semi-official Fars news agency said on Friday quoting a police official. "During clashes with armed rebels on Thursday night, Brigadier General Mohammad Sar-Golzaie was killed" in Sistan-Baluchestan province, a local police commander, Salah Asgari, said. He said the general was killed during mopping up operations in the Nosratabad area northwest of the provincial capital Zahedan. He said three other soldiers had been killed in fighting in recent days without specifying where. "Several rebels were also killed," he added. Sistan-Baluchestan has seen a spate of attacks by Sunni Muslim militant group Jundullah (Soldiers of God) in recent years. The province is home to a large ethnic Baluch community, who, unlike most Iranians, are Sunnis. The province also borders Afghanistan and Pakistan and is a major drug trafficking route. For original article, click here .
Jundallah Threatens to Kill Two IRGC Members Held Prisoner
(Elaph - Summary translation from Arabic by Persia House) July 8, 2008
Jundallah [the Baluchi “Soldiers of Allah”] threatened to kill two IRGC members held hostage after talks designed to exchange them with Baluchi prisoners held by the Iranian government failed. Jund Allah had occupied an Iranian military camp two weeks ago, killing and capturing its occupants. There, the group found a document sent by the Iranian military chief of the region, “Officer Ghafari," which ordered the camp’s chief to kill all Baluchis, take their money and rape their women. The order stated that Baluchis are infidels and, therefore, one is permitted to kill them according to Shari’ a law. For the original Arabic, click here .