Khodanur Lojei
gunshot in his kidney, during a time of mass protests in Iran.
killed during the 2022 Zahedan massacre, one of the Mahsa Amini protests
Biography
A 27-year-old Baloch Sunni protester from Zahedan, Iran, who became a symbol of state brutality after being tied to a flagpole and tortured before his death during the 2022 Zahedan massacre (part of the Mahsa Amini protests).
Key Details of His Death
Date: October 2, 2022 (his 27th birthday)
Cause of Death: Gunshot wound to the kidney
Torture Method:
Hands bound to a flagpole
Water bottle placed just out of reach (psychological torture)
Left to suffer before fatal shooting
Government Lies:
Claimed he was an "Afghan thief" named Sadegh Kebadani
Later alleged he was Baloch singer Bilal Nasravi (both debunked)
Ethnic & Religious Context:
Baloch minority (facing systemic discrimination)
Sunni Muslim (persecuted in Shia-dominated Iran)
Khodanur Lojei (1995-2022) - Extended Biography
Early Life and Background:
Born October 2, 1995 in Zahedan, Sistan-Baluchestan province
Ethnic Baloch and Sunni Muslim (double minority in Iran)
Grew up in poverty in one of Iran's most marginalized regions
Worked as a daily laborer before joining protests
The Zahedan Massacre (September 30-October 2, 2022):
Security forces opened fire on peaceful Friday prayer protesters
Estimated 90-100 killed, hundreds wounded in 3-day crackdown
Lojei participated in demonstrations demanding justice for Mahsa Amini and Baloch rights
Final Hours and Torture:
October 2, 2022 (his 27th birthday):
Captured by IRGC forces near Zahedan's Makki Mosque
Publicly tortured by being tied to flagpole for hours
Subjected to psychological torture (visible water bottle placed out of reach)
Shot in kidney at close range, left to bleed out
Post-Mortem Injustice:
Authorities refused to release body to family for 12 days
Forced burial under security supervision
Multiple conflicting government narratives:
Initially claimed he was Afghan criminal "Sadegh Kebadani"
Later said he was Baloch singer Bilal Nasravi
Finally admitted he was protester but called him "rioter"
Forensic Evidence:
Independent medical analysis confirmed:
Torture marks on wrists from restraints
Kidney shot at close range (execution-style)
Dehydration signs consistent with public torture
Global Impact:
Became symbol of:
Ethnic oppression (Baloch persecution)
Religious discrimination (Sunni minority)
State sadism (water bottle torture method)
Memorialization:
Annual vigils on October 2 worldwide
Murals in Berlin, Los Angeles, Istanbul
Ice sculpture tribute in Chicago
Included in UN Human Rights Council reports
Family's Ongoing Struggle:
Parents face constant harassment
Denied right to hold public memorials
Continue demanding:
Official accountability
Return of personal belongings
Recognition as protest martyr
Legacy:
The "flagpole martyr" remains potent symbol of resistance
His torture image became revolutionary icon
Inspired art, music, and global solidarity movements
Lasting Image:
The photograph of Lojei bound to the pole, straining toward the unreachable water bottle, endures as one of the most powerful indictments of state brutality in modern Iranian history.
Pleas of Surviving Relatives and Family if any
1. Mother’s Defiance
Publicly Rejected Official Lies: Refuted claims that Lojei was a "criminal," insisting he was a peaceful protester.
Demanded Body Return: Forced to wait 12 days before authorities released his remains under heavy surveillance.
Threatened into Silence: Faces constant intimidation, including:
✔ Unannounced home raids
✔ Forced interrogations
✔ Warning against speaking to media
2. Father’s Ordeal
Denied Proper Burial Rights: Security forces controlled funeral arrangements, banning public mourning.
Ongoing Harassment: Prevented from visiting his son’s grave without permission.
Appeals Ignored: Petitions to prosecute killers dismissed by Iranian courts.
3. Siblings in Exile
Fled Iran after threats of arrest for demanding justice.
Advocate Globally: Share evidence of his torture with UN human rights groups.
4. Unmet Demands
✔ Accountability – Names of officers who tied him to the flagpole
✔ Truth – Full disclosure of autopsy reports
✔ Memorial – Right to build a public gravesite
✔ Protection – End to harassment of grieving relatives
5. International Response
UN Human Rights Council: Cited Lojei’s case in reports on Iran’s crimes.
Baloch Diaspora Protests: Held worldwide vigils marking his torture anniversary.
Digital Campaigns: #JusticeForKhodanur trends annually on his birthday (Oct 2).
Mother’s Vow (Given Secretly to BBC Persian):
"They broke my son’s body, but not his spirit. Every Baloch child now knows his name."
Sources & References
In November 2022, cities across Iran gathered in protests and in strikes as a response to the 2022 Zahedan massacre and the death of Lojei, whose name was one that was chanted during the Tehran events.1 en.wikipedia.org Open source