Name of leader Abdul Malik Rigi
Title Emir
Organization Jundullah
English Translation Army of God
Conflict country Iran
Gender Male
Year of birth 1979 (another source suggests 1983)
Place of birth Sistan & Balochistan, Iran
Year of death 2010
Deceased
Yes[1]
Birth order
He appears to have one younger brother and one other brother, Abdul Rauf Rigi[2][3].
Age at start of rebel leadership
In 2003, at either age 20 or 24.[4]
Leader entry method:
He was the founder.[5]
Powersharing
No, based on multiple biographical sources there is no evidence of powersharing.
Education (also name universities attended, if any); note any relevant experiences while a student
“Although lacking any formal secular education, Rigi had been educated at Karachi's Binnori Town seminary, a Sunni Madrasah which was school to many of the Taliban leaders.”[6] In a personal interview he claims to have attended high school, although he did not finished it.[7]
Based on multiple biographical sources there is no evidence of Western education.
Ever married? If yes, age of first marriage
Yes, but age of marriage is unknown.[8]
Children
He claimed to have three young children.[9]
Religious identification
He is a Sunni Muslim.[10]
Elite family background
He is unlikely to be of an elite background.[11]
Political affiliations and intellectual circles; note any relevant social connections made
No, likely any activities would be too closely related to the individual’s organization.
Physical and mental health
There is no evidence of poor physical or mental health.
Pre-militant leader occupation
He was an activist. “According to him, from the age of 19 he has taken up arms and carried out terrorist operations. ”[12]
Experience in a state military, and role; any relevant social ties
No, based on multiple biographical sources there is no evidence of state military experience.
Experience in a nonstate military, and role; any relevant social ties
No, he did not have nonstate military experience.
Combat experience prior to assuming resistance organization leadership?
No, based on multiple biographical sources there is no evidence of combat experience.
Held government position prior to assuming leadership?
No, he did not hold a government position prior to assuming leadership.
Lived in exile?
Possibly, since he was living in Pakistan; however there is no direct evidence of exile.[13]
Study abroad?
No, based on multiple biographical sources there is no evidence of study abroad.
Did the leader receive military training abroad?
No, based on multiple biographical sources there is no evidence of military training abroad.
Did the leader have extensive work experience abroad?
No, he did not have extensive experience working abroad.
Serve time in prison? Social connections during that time?
Yes, “prior to founding Jundallah, while a teenager, Rigi was convicted of assault with a knife, for which he served time in prison.”[14] He was also arrested in February of 2010 and then executed in June (the 2010 arrest does not count since this was after he was leader).[15]
Was there an assassination attempt on the leader by the state?
No, there is no evidence of an assassination attempt.
Cause of Death?
He was hung in Iran due to his acts of terrorism.[16]
Primary language, and other languages spoken as adult
Likely Balochi was primary, and also Persian.[17]
Based on multiple biographical sources there is no evidence of English as a first or second language.
[1]Image credits: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Abdolmalek_Rigi_in_Islamic_Revolutionary_Court.jpg
Ibid.
[2] Nazila Fathi, “Iran Executes Sunni Rebel Leader,” New York Times, June 20, 2010, Accessed January 21, 2018, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/21/world/middleeast/21iran.html.
[3] Amir Mir, “The rise and fall of Rigi brothers,” BBC Arabic, January 2, 2011, Accessed January 21, 2018, http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:wYOthMnJ044J:metranspcm.cluster011.ovh.net/spip.php%3Fpage%3Darticle%26id_article%3D12265%26var_lang%3Den%26lang%3Den+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us.
[4] Moign Khawaja, “Iran Executes Jundullah Founder Abdul Malik Rigi,” Foreign Policy Journal, June 20, 2010, Accessed January 21, 2018, https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2010/06/20/iran-executes-jundullah-founder-abdul-malik-rigi/.
[5] Ibid.
[6] See f.n.3
[7] Willem Marx, “Double Agent,” Tablet, May 10, 2011, Accessed January 21, 2018, http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-news-and-politics/66964/double-agent.
[8] Ibid.
[9] Ibid.
[10] Ibid.
[11] Ibid.
[12] See f.n.1
[13] B. Raman, “And Now Iran...,” Outlook India, October 19, 2009, Accessed January 21, 2018, https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/and-now-iran/262392.
[14] See f.n.3
[15] See f.n.5
[16] Ibid.
[17] Abdulmalik Rigi, “The Most Wanted Man in Iran,” Interview by Dan Rather, Dan Rather Reports, April 24, 2008.