Abdolmalek Rigi
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| Abdolmalek Rigi (Emir Abdulmalik Rigi) | |
|---|---|
| January 1, 1983 | |
 |
|
| Nickname | Rigi |
| Place of birth |  Iranian Balochistan, Iran |
| Allegiance | Jundallah (Brigade of God) |
| Years of service | 1998 - present |
| Rank | Commander-in-chief |
| Battles/wars | Rebellion in Iran Baloch people rights |
Abdolmalek Rigi (also spelt Abdul-Malek Rigi or Emir Abdulmalik Rigi) is the leader of Jundallah, a Sunni militant/terrorist organization based in the southeastern area of Iran that has ties with al-Qaeda, Balochistan. The group is a militant group that according to evidence and some international sources receives funding from the US Government.[1][2]
According to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, Rigi "is responsible for the death and injury of more than 50 Baluchi Iranians, has taken several Iranian border guards hostage and has demanded a ransom for their release."[3]
Dan Rather, on the cable channel HDnet's television news magazine Dan Rather Reports, indicated that support comes from Balochis in Sweden where Radio Baloch FM is broadcast from Stockholm. Rather stated that Rigi targets Iranian government and military objectives and showed a video of Rigi cutting off a government official's head. Rigi described himself as an Iranian and denies that his goal is to form a separate Baluchistan autonomous region. Rather, his goal is to improve conditions for ethnic Baluchis.[4][5]
Iran executed a Jundallah member for the February 14, 2007, car bombing which targeted a bus motorcade carrying members of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard as they passed through the Sistan-Baluchistan capital of Zahedan. Eleven Revolutionary Guardsmen were killed and 31 were injured.[6][2]
The Iranian newspaper Kayhan incorrectly reported on 7 April 2005, "Abdolmalek Rigi, leader of the terrorist group, the Jundullah... was killed in an operation on the border with Afghanistan."[7] A video surfaced on 11 April showing Rigi alive.[8]
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ The Secret War Against Iran ABC News
- ^ a b Car bomb in Iran destroys a bus carrying Revolutionary Guards The New York Times
- ^ http://english.irib.ir/news/print.asp?id=13412&titel=Top%20Stories
- ^ HDNet Original Programming - Transcripts
- ^ HDNet Original Programming - Dan Rather Reports
- ^ Iran executes man convicted of bombing Revolutionary Guards at site of attack | www.azstarnet.com
- ^ Iran kills Sunni militant ringleader: press Iran Mania
- ^ Iran Sunni rebels video shows killing of officer: TV The Boston Globe
