Following reports of a military raid on the village of Bandar Kolahi, located in the Minab city district, and the destruction and burning of villagers' fuel tanks, Mowlavi Abdolhamid tweeted: 'The violent confrontation with the dear people of Bandar Kolahi was very painful. Officials must prevent the recurrence of such inappropriate confrontations and compensate the damages of the oppressed people of Bandar Kolahi.' The Sunni Friday prayer leader of Zahedan wrote that the people of Iran are economically distressed and struggling for a bite to eat; some people in ports and border areas are forced to transport fuel. Some media outlets reported that military forces raided this village on Wednesday, July 21, 1402 (July 12, 2023), under the pretext of confronting 'fuel smuggling,' and in addition to destroying and burning fuel tanks using bulldozers, they created terror among the villagers. Government media have labeled this news as 'rumor and fabrication.' Ghahramani, the head of the judiciary in Hormozgan province, claimed that the images published relate to the destruction of five encroaching walls in Bandar Kolahi, which housed millions of liters of smuggled fuel, and this is clearly evident in the released videos. He stated: 'The destroyed locations were not residential but lands and enclosures occupied by smugglers, which were not only illegal but also constructed for committing crimes within the coastal area, and based on this, the actions of the officials in destroying these tanks are completely legal.'
Mowlavi Abdolhamid's Reaction to 'Violent Confrontation' in Bandar Kolahi; People Struggle for a Bite to Eat
Mowlavi Abdolhamid condemned a military raid in Bandar Kolahi that resulted in the destruction of villagers' fuel tanks, highlighting the economic struggles of the local population. The government claims the raid was legal due to alleged fuel smuggling activities. This incident raises concerns about state violence against economically vulnerable communities.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
A military raid in Bandar Kolahi resulted in the destruction of villagers' fuel tanks under the pretext of combating fuel smuggling. Mowlavi Abdolhamid condemned the violence and highlighted the economic struggles faced by the local population.
- The raid occurred on July 21, 1402 (July 12, 2023).
- Government officials claim the destroyed tanks were part of illegal fuel smuggling operations.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has been facing significant economic challenges, leading to increased smuggling activities as people seek alternative means of survival. The government often responds to such activities with military force, raising concerns about human rights.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%