Iran To Execute 12 Sunni Muslims

(Tehran, Iran) Iranian authorities have scheduled executions this week of 12 Sunni Muslims belonging to the Jundallah (Soldiers of God) rebel group, including a senior leader of the rebels, Abdolhamid Rigi.

Jundallah militants are accused of regularly launching attacks against the Shiite government in the southeast province of Sistan-Baluchestan, bordering Afghanistan and Pakistan.

According to Hojateslam Ebrahim Hamidi, head of the Sistan-Baluchestan Judiciary, the 12 Jundallah members have been accused of being "mohareb" -- enemies of God. “They will be hanged, inshallah, by the end of the week,” said Hamidi.

Concurrently, the Fars news agency reports allegations of U.S. forces providing funds and collaborating with Jundallah in recruiting, training, infiltrating Iran and in methods of inflaming Sunni-Shiite sectarianism.

Oddly, the news comes despite the fact that Jundallah is historically linked to the Taliban and al-Qaeda and a recent report indicates that the Pakistani Taliban plans to join forces with Jundallah.

Frankly, skepticism is probably warranted regarding the U.S. collaborating with Jundallah.