Benyamin Kouhkan

Benyamin Kouhkan lives in Zahedan. He was arrested during the protests across Sistan and Balochistan province in response to the rape of a 15-year-old Baloch girl by the chief of police of Chabahar and the murder of Mahsa Amini. He was under 18 at the time of the arrest.

A few days after the murder of Mahsa Amini, a girl from Saqez who was killed by the morality police in Tehran, Baloch citizens took to the streets of Zahedan in protest of this murder and in solidarity with the national uprising. At the same time, Baloch citizens were also infuriated by the rape of a 15-year-old Baloch girl by the chief of police of Chabahar (Ebrahim Kouchakzaei). After the temporary Friday-prayer Imam of Rask (Abdol- Ghaffar Naghshbandi) confirmed the rape, people’s anger reached a new level. In the early days of fall protests occurred in several towns including Chabahar and Iranshahr. On Friday, September 30th, after the Friday-prayer, the people of Zahedan gathered in protest in front of a police station and expressed solidarity with the national uprising and their disgust for the rape of the 15-year-old-girl. The state forces attacked the gathering with live ammunition and killed over 100 people (including 14 children) and wounded dozens. The attack led to widespread protests in the region and arrests of dozens of Baloch citizens. <symbol-timeline></symbol-timeline>

• <coverage-outsourcing id='46789'> The security forces arrested him in Zahedan. He was arrested during the national uprising triggered by Mahsa Amini's murder. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='46790'> Islamic Republic media aired a coerced confession video in which two young men admit to shooting at police patrols in Zahedan. Sources said the two young men were identified as Banyamin Kouhkan and Yasin Kabdani. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='46792'> <reference source='https://t.me/balochcampaign/12855'> Baluch activists campaign reported that Benyamin Kouhkan and Yasin Kabdani are at risk of receiving death sentences. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='46841'> He was charged with murder at police lockup. A source told IPA that about a week after his arrest, the police forces transferred Mr. Kouhkan to the third branch of investigation and in the office of the investigator Mr. Jahantigh, in the presence of his grandmother and aunt, Mr. Kouhkan denied the murder charge but the investigator said: > Whether you live or die, you'll have to accept the murder charge. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='46791'> An IPA source reported that Benyamin Kouhkan and Yasin Kabdani were transferred from the security jail to Zahedan Prison. During this time they were denied family visits and access to an attorney. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='46842'> IPA sources reported that Benyamin and Elyas Kouhkan's mother was able to have a brief visit with her son at Zahedan Prison. During the visit, Benyamin told his mother that during the arrest he was severely tortured and sexually abused, and he showed her the bottom of his feet, where the security forces had whipped him with cable. He had passed out twice during torture and was transferred to the hospital. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='46843'> An IPA source reported that due to the trauma from the severe physical, psychological, and sexual torture, he attempted suicide in prison by drinking the liquid soap. This led to his transfer to police lockup. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='46906'> He was transferred from police jail to the correctional facility at Zahedan Prison. An IPA source reported that he vehemently denied the charge of murder of a police officer in a phone call. He also said that during his time in the police jail, he wasn't fed at all. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='47020'> <reference source=''> Mehdi Shamsabadi, the prosecutor general of Sistan and Baluchistan province denied the reports of Mr. Kouhkan's suicide. IPA has credible sources confirming the attempted suicide. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='48129'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/AussieInspector/status/1630415196060782593?t=iGKM5IQy6RSJthAXMDN0qA&s=19'> Australian MP Michael Sukkar accepted the political guardianship of 14 prisoners including Benyamin Kouhkan who were arrested during the 2022 uprising. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='48496'> <reference source='https://t.me/balochcampaign/13784'> The investigator at the sixth branch of the revolutionary court of Zahedan is preventing the progress of Benyamin Kouhkan's case. Baluch Activists Campaign reported that the underage Baluch activist charged with Moharebeh and spreading corruption on earth is being denied access to attorney and family visit. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='50193'> <reference source='https://haalvsh.org/2023/04/04/12481/'> Halvash reported that Benyamin Kouhkan, Elyas Kouhkan, Yasin Kabdani, and Mohammad Darvish Narouei are still under arrest without an official indictment. According to the report, during this time they have been severely tortured (hung from the ceiling, death threats) to agree to a video confession. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='51505'> <reference source='https://haalvsh.org/2023/05/16/13198/'> Benyamin Kouhkan and Mahmoud Darvish Narouei were transferred to Zahedan prison quarantine. Based on this report, they were probably sent to the intelligence department "where there is a possibility of their torture due to the history of this department". Haalvsh also announced that the families of these two prisoners have no information about their condition. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='51509'> <reference source='https://t.me/balochcampaign/14422'> According to the report of the campaign of Baluch activists, he was transferred from the quarantine of Zahedan detention center to robbery and homicide jail. Based on this report, earlier, a person named "Gholami" in charge of the prison center, had threatened to transfer him to the robbery-homicide and torture him to make him confess. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='52844'> <reference source='https://t.me/balochcampaign/15005'> He was transferred from Zahedan prison to the detention center of the Ministry of Intelligence. A few days later, while announcing this news, the Baluch Activists Campaign wrote, quoting its sources: > They have been taken from Zahedan Central Prison to the Ministry of Intelligence for torture and forced confessions." In this interrogation, they tried to link Benyamin's case to the Jaish al-Adl group, and before this, they had prepared a murder case for him. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='57271'> <reference source='https://t.me/balochcampaign/15198'> According to the report of the Baluch Activists Campaign, he was transferred to the Army Intelligence of Zahedan. Based on this report, this transfer was made to obtain forced confessions through torture. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='58460'> <reference source='https://t.me/rasanknews/27771'> Rasank published the news of his continued arrest and wrote that Ayoub and Zabihollah Kouhkan, the nephew of Hamid Reza Kouhkan, along with Elias and Benyamin, the children of Hamid Reza Kouhkan, and Yasin Kabdani and Mohammad Darvish Narouei, two of their friends, are facing "a fake case" in order to put pressure on the families of these people, especially Hamid Reza Kouhkan, who is a former political prisoner. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='57270'> <reference source='https://t.me/balochcampaign/16039'> Edris Kouhkan, Zabihollah Kouhkan and Benyamin Kouhkan were transferred from Zahedan Central Prison. According to the campaign of Baluch activists, they have been brought to jail to obtain forced confessions and are subjected to severe physical and mental torture. The campaign of Baluch activists wrote in the description of their torture that Edris Kouhkan, Zabihollah Kouhkan, and Benyamin Kouhkan were deprived of water and food and they were asked to testify and confess against each other. The Baluch Activists Campaign added: > In order to put more pressure on these three citizens, the forces of the intelligence agency falsely announced to each of them that so-and-so has confessed against you and if you want to stop the torture, you must confess. Based on this report, Benyamin Kouhkan is facing a murder case in addition to the accusation of moharebeh. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='58258'> <reference source='https://t.me/balochcampaign/19595'> According to the Baluch Activists' Campaign, around this date, he was transferred from the Children's Correctional Center to a forensic doctor to assess his age based on his intellect. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='57316'> <reference source='https://t.me/balochcampaign/18009'> According to the report of the Baluch Activists Campaign, his parents Hamid Reza Kouhkan and Mrs. A. Narouei, were arrested by the forces of the Intelligence Department in their residence in Zahedan. His other two brothers, Edris and Elias have been arrested by the security forces. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='57272'> <reference source='https://t.me/balochcampaign/18649'> Elske Friter, Benyamin Kouhken's political sponsor, and German human rights organization Hovar emphasized in a meeting that they will fight for the release of Benyamin Kouhken and his family who are in prison. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='58255'> <reference source='https://t.me/balochcampaign/19595'> According to Baluch Activists Campaign, Benyamin Kouhkan is still in Zahedan Prison's children's correction and education center. Based on this news, the plaintiff in the case of Benyamin Kohken, the Ministry of Intelligence, has prevented his release by posting bail. One of Benyamin Kouhkan's relatives told the campaign reporter: > The accusation of murder against Benyamin is baseless and the family of the victim has denied it, but the Zahedan Intelligence Department has stated that the victim's family will only receive the blood money if they blame Benyamin for the murder. Based on this news, the Ministry of Intelligence has threatened the victim's family if they do not file a complaint against Benyamin, Zabihollah and Edris Kohkan, the MInistry will make up a case against the family. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='63229'> <reference source='https://t.me/balochcampaign/21588'> According to the Baluch activists' campaign, Aleske Freiter, one of the representatives of the Green Party of Germany, announced his support for Benyamin Kouhkan by publishing a story on Instagram and wrote: > Benyamin has been in detention for six hundred days. Shout his name! "Benyamin Kouhkan. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='63665'> <reference source='https://t.me/balochcampaign/22033'> According to Baluch Activists' Campaign, Hamid Reza Kouhkan, Edris Kouhkan and Benyamin Kouhkan are still in custody in Zahedan prison. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='63966'> <reference source='https://t.me/balochcampaign/22269'> According to the report of the Baluch Activists Campaign, it has been at least a week that Yasin Kebdani and Benyamin Kouhkan have not had any contact with their families, and this has caused concern for the families. According to this report, after the families went to the correctional center, they were not allowed to visit them. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>