Elias Zeinoldini Secretly Hanged in Double Jeopardy Case

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, a man was hanged in Zahedan Central Prison on 16 May 2026. His identity has been established as Elias Zeinoldini, a Baluch man who was around 44 years old. Per Haal Vsh which first reported news of the execution, Elias was from Lashar county and had been arrested eleven years ago.

He was sentenced to death on the charge of moharebeh by the Revolutionary Court and to qisas (retribution-in-kind) for murder by the Criminal Court.

An informed source told IHRNGO: “The charges against Elias consisted of a combination of security and criminal offences, and he faced two separate death sentences within the judicial system. One of his death sentences was issued on the charge of moharebeh while the other was for his involvement in an armed clash in 2015 that resulted in the death of an armed agent. His sentence was ultimately carried out without him being permitted a final visitation with his family.”

It appears that Elias was executed for the moharebeh charges.

Baluch minorities account for 2-6% of Iran’s total population. Research and monitoring by IHRNGO shows that at least 149 Baluch individuals were executed in 2025, accounting for 9% of all recorded executions in Iran. The gross overrepresentation of Baluch people in the execution figures in previous years (11% in 2024, 20% in 2023 and 30% in 2022) has elicited reactions from rights groups and the international community. This increased scrutiny may have contributed to the relative reduction in Baluch executions in 2025.