Iranian MP: 80,000 Kolbars Unemployed in the West of the Country

As protests continue in several cities of Kurdistan province regarding the restriction of goods entering from the borders, the representative of Sardasht in Parliament announced that due to the closure of borders, about 80,000 kolbars in the western provinces of Iran have become unemployed. On Wednesday, April 29, in an interview with the website of the House of the Nation, affiliated with the Parliament, Rasoul Khazari stated that the government's decree at the end of 2017 banning kolbari and closing the borders has caused unemployment for 'more than 70 to 80 thousand kolbars.' The representative emphasized that the issue of kolbar unemployment has 'turned into a dangerous crisis and a ticking time bomb that could explode at any moment.' Khazari also mentioned in discussions with local media in Piranshahr that President Hassan Rouhani has 'unfortunately not shown any effort regarding the issue of border crossings and their reopening.' Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, Iran's Minister of Interior, announced on Sunday, December 17, 2017, the government's decision to 'stop kolbari' and create 15 border markets, while also stating that this decision 'will have social and security repercussions.' In March of the previous year, a plan for 'border trade of goods through the method of pilavari and using electronic cards for border residents' was initiated in the city of Baneh. Ali Maghool, head of the Import and Free Trade Zones Department of Iran Customs, announced a monthly discount of 500,000 tomans for the entry of goods and a complete exemption from 4% tax on the trade card as some of the benefits of this card. In contrast, protesters have stated that the closure of kolbari routes has led to unemployment for kolbars and created problems for shopkeepers. Meanwhile, the strike of merchants in some cities of Kurdistan province in protest against the closure of borders began in the early days of April and has gradually expanded. According to the Kurdpa website, protests by merchants in the cities of Baneh, Javanroud, Marivan, and Saqqez continue, and on Wednesday, merchants in Mahabad and Piranshahr joined them. On the other hand, the human rights organization Hengaw reported on its website that at least 12 people have been arrested during these protests in the cities of Saqqez, Baneh, and Marivan. According to this report, Reza Asadi, Mohsen Alizadeh Varzegar Refahi in Baneh, Ghader Mohammadzadeh and Jamil Osmani in Saqqez, and Amir Zahed in Marivan are among those arrested. Kolbars are individuals who earn their living by transporting goods across the borders of Iran. They are mostly employed in the provinces of West Azerbaijan, Kurdistan, and Kermanshah. Meanwhile, reports of the deaths of several kolbars due to gunfire from Iranian border guards are frequently published. For instance, in September of the previous year, protests were held in Baneh and Sanandaj in response to the killing of two kolbars residing in Baneh, and several protesters were arrested. In February 2017, after the death of five kolbars, 60 civil and political activists wrote a letter to President Hassan Rouhani and members of Parliament, asking for short-term condolences for the families of the victims and long-term measures to create more jobs in the western provinces of Iran.