In Embodying Revolution, Manijeh Moradian highlights the early days of the Women, Life, Freedom movement, when the rape of a 15-year-old Baluch girl by Colonel Ebrahim Kouchakzai, the police force commander in Chabahar, ignited outrage across the province. Known as the “Chabahari girl,” her case underscored the intersection of patriarchal state violence, systemic impoverishment, and ethnic marginalization.

The Story of Khodanur Lojei

Another powerful emblem of state violence against the Baluch minority is Khodanur Lojei, whose tragic death has become a defining symbol of the government's repression. A young Baluch man from Shirabad, Zahedan, Lojei was already marginalized as a Sunni Muslim without identification documents or formal education. His brutal treatment and preventable death underscored the state’s systemic targeting of minorities.

Lojei was shot and arrested during protests demanding justice for Mahsa Jina Amini on October 1, 2022. After being denied medical treatment for a severe spinal cord injury, he died from neglect while pleading for help. His story became a rallying point, with his viral photograph tied to a pole representing not humiliation but resistance. The Baluch community’s defiance ensured that Khodanur’s memory remains a source of solidarity and inspiration.

Connecting Stories: Symbols of Resilience

Though their experiences were different, the “Chabahari girl” and Khodanur Lojei symbolize the systematic targeting of Baluch minorities by the Iranian state. Moradian describes this violence as a calculated tool of repression, intended to silence communities through fear. Yet, their stories demonstrate the opposite effect. Rather than quelling dissent, they have ignited outrage and fueled the Baluch community’s defiance against oppression.

These stories also highlight the intersectionality of state violence. For the “Chabahari girl,” sexual violence was wielded as a means of control, reflecting the patriarchy’s grip on both gender and ethnic hierarchies. For Khodanur, his arrest and subsequent neglect exposed the broader pattern of systemic dehumanization of minorities. Both cases illustrate how state power operates at the intersection of ethnicity, religion, and socio-political marginalization.

The Broader Movement

The Women, Life, Freedom movement has amplified stories like those of the “Chabahari girl” and Khodanur Lojei, transforming personal tragedies into collective calls for justice. These symbols underscore the resilience of Iran’s marginalized communities and their refusal to be silenced. As the movement evolves, the legacy of these stories continues to inspire hope and fuel the fight for equality and dignity in Iran.

Moradian, Manijeh. “Embodying Revolution.” Radical History Review, 2024: 164-170.
Amnesty International. “Iran: Systematic Oppression of the Baluch Minority.”
BBC News. “Iran’s Baluch Minority Targeted in Zahedan Massacre.”
The Guardian. “Women, Life, Freedom: Iran’s New Generation Takes a Stand.”