Iran hangs man accused of leading insurgent group active near border with Pakistan

Iran hangs man accused as insurgent leader

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran hanged a man accused of leading an insurgent group active near the country’s border with Pakistan, the state news agency reported Sunday.

The agency IRNA identified the man as Abdulmalik Rigi and said he was the leader of Jundallah, Arabic for the Soldiers of God. The report said he had pleaded guilty to charges of armed attacks against targets that included civilians, armed robbery, and engaging in a disinformation campaign against Iran.

Iran claims Jundallah is behind an insurgency in its southeast that has destabilized the border region with Pakistan.

IRNA said Rigi was hanged in front of families who were victims of Jundallah.

Iran said Rigi was arrested in February by intelligence agents when he was flying over the Persian Gulf en route from Dubai to Kyrgyzstan. His younger brother, Abdulhamid, was executed last month in Iran after being captured in Pakistan in 2008 and extradited to Iran.

Jundallah has claimed responsibility for bombings that have killed dozens in recent years, including five senior commanders of Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard last year. The group gained attention six years ago after it launched a campaign of sporadic kidnappings and bombings that killed dozens. The group claims minority Sunni tribes in southeastern Iran suffer discrimination at the hands of Iran’s Shiite leadership.

Iran has accused the U.S. and Britain of supporting Jundallah in an effort to weaken the Iranian government, a charge they deny. Iran also claims the group is linked to al-Qaida, but experts say no evidence of such a link has been found.