The media outlet "Kolbar News" reported that in the first six months of the year 1402 (2023), a total of 85 porters were killed or injured in border areas and inter-road routes of the provinces of West Azerbaijan, Kurdistan, and Kermanshah. According to this report, among these, 13 porters were killed and 72 were injured, with 77 of the 85 porters either killed or injured due to direct gunfire from the military forces of the Islamic Republic. In the latest incident, the news agency HRANA, the organ of human rights activists in Iran, reported that on the evening of Wednesday, September 29, 1402, gunfire from military forces in the border areas of Baneh resulted in the injury of a porter. His identity was reported as Farid from Divandareh. According to this report, this porter was targeted by the Revolutionary Guards and was transferred to a medical center for treatment. Previously, the Statistics, Publication, and Works Center of human rights activists in Iran had reported that in the year 1401 (2022), the deaths of 21 porters and injuries to 133 others were recorded by border and police forces. Additionally, during this period, 28 other porters were involved in accidents due to climatic and geographical conditions such as frostbite and falls from heights, resulting in 26 injuries and 2 deaths. Porters are individuals who carry commercial goods from border areas into the country for a living. This work is illegal in Iran, and porters are often subjected to repression and violence from military forces. Documentation shows that people in border areas turn to portering due to a lack of job opportunities and difficult living conditions. A young porter who was "run over by border military forces" died in the city of Saqez. Hengaw: A young Kurdish man was killed due to torture by police officers. Deliberate run-over by a government vehicle; another porter was killed. A Kurdish porter was killed by direct gunfire from the Revolutionary Guards. A porter was killed by direct gunfire from border forces in the Bastam border area. A young porter died after being "run over by a border military vehicle" in a hospital in Saqez.
Portering on the Death Line; 85 Porters Killed or Injured in Six Months
In the first half of 2023, 85 porters were reported killed or injured in Iran's border provinces, primarily due to military gunfire. The situation highlights the dangerous conditions faced by porters, who resort to this illegal work due to economic hardship. This ongoing violence raises significant human rights concerns in Iran.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
In the first half of 2023, 85 porters were killed or injured in Iran's border regions, primarily due to military gunfire. This highlights the dangerous conditions faced by porters engaged in illegal work due to economic hardship.
- 77 out of 85 casualties were due to direct gunfire from military forces.
- Porters are individuals who carry goods across borders illegally due to lack of job opportunities.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Porters, often from Kurdish communities, engage in illegal cross-border trade due to lack of local employment opportunities. This work is dangerous and often met with violence from Iranian military forces.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%