Difficult Times for Porters; 17 Porters Killed or Injured in 15 Days

Reports indicate that in the first two weeks of January 2023, one porter was killed and 16 others were injured by gunfire from Islamic Republic military personnel. According to the human rights organization "Hangaw", on Wednesday, January 3, three porters from the towns of Javanrud and Ravansar were severely injured by gunfire from government forces stationed at the Nowsud border in Kermanshah province. Additionally, another porter was injured during gunfire from the Islamic Republic's border guards, whose identity has not yet been confirmed. Hangaw previously reported that on January 9, a young porter from Saqez named Ahmad Sadeghi was killed while carrying goods at the "Hengejal" border near Baneh by direct gunfire from government forces. On the same day, three other porters were severely injured by gunfire from government forces stationed at the Baneh border. On January 8, two porters from Saqez, Kaveh Mohammadi and Youssef Chichouran, were also severely injured by direct gunfire from government forces at the Baneh border. Reports indicate that on the 1st, 4th, and 5th of January, seven porters were injured by direct gunfire from officials. Hangaw also emphasized that during the year 2023, the killings of porters have significantly increased compared to previous years, with 41 porters and traders killed and at least 292 porters injured. Porterage is prevalent in the border areas of western and eastern Iran, primarily due to underdevelopment and high unemployment in these regions. The lives of Kurdish porters and Baluch fuel carriers in Iran are viewed as expendable by the Islamic Republic's officials.