Letter from 60 Political and Civil Activists Regarding the Situation of Kolbars

Following the death of five kolbars in recent days, 60 civil and political activists wrote a letter to Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, and members of parliament, urging them to provide immediate support to the families of the victims and to take long-term actions to create more jobs in the western provinces of Iran. According to the Mokrian news agency, among the signatories are Abdollah Ramazanzadeh, spokesman for Mohammad Khatami's government, former parliament members Jalal Jalalizadeh and Latif Safari, and Hashem Heydati. The activists pointed out that the deaths of kolbars highlight that "kolbari is not a choice but a necessity, and if other job options were available in Kurdistan, undoubtedly most kolbars would not resort to this exhausting profession." The letter states that the definition of kolbari by the people of Kurdistan differs from the official definition of smuggling, as they value jobs based on the permissibility of the goods being traded rather than their economic outcomes. The authors of the letter argue that for this reason, drug traffickers are "rejected and despised," while kolbars, who are seen as honorable and hardworking individuals seeking lawful livelihoods, are respected by the community. The letter raises the question of whether job choice exists or if most people are forced into hard and exhausting jobs like kolbari out of necessity. The authors also compare the economic development indicators of Kurdistan province with other regions of Iran, indicating inequality in investment and government neglect of these areas. They have called on the President and parliament members to take positive actions for the support and consolation of affected kolbars and their families, similar to the response to the Plasco incident. They also demand long-term planning for the development of these areas and the creation of jobs that allow citizens to enjoy their legal and civic rights and live with dignity and security. The deaths of five kolbars in recent days have reignited discussions about this profession in Iranian media. Reports indicate that on February 9, four kolbars were killed due to an avalanche near Sardasht in West Azerbaijan province. On Tuesday, three kolbars were buried under snow due to another avalanche, with one of them, a 19-year-old from Oshnavieh, confirmed dead. Representative Rasoul Khazari stated that they are pursuing compensation for the deceased and medical treatment for the injured kolbars, emphasizing the need to focus on employment opportunities. Kolbars are local individuals in the border regions of western Iran, such as Kurdistan, West Azerbaijan, and Kermanshah, who carry goods illegally into Iran, sometimes transporting heavy items like televisions or car tires on horseback. In recent years, there have also been reports of border guards shooting at kolbars in these areas. The recent deaths of kolbars have brought this profession back into the spotlight in Iranian media. Meanwhile, MP Mohsen Beiglari stated in an interview that "kolbari is not a job. Why should a young person or an old man carry three times their weight for kilometers just to earn one million tomans a month?" Iranian officials had previously announced the issuance of "kolbari travel permits" for some kolbars. In contrast, the governor of Sardasht claimed that the deceased were not true kolbars but were crossing through illegal routes and were involved in smuggling. He noted that 8,000 "kolbari travel permits" had been issued in Sardasht, suggesting that the deceased would not have faced problems if they had used legal routes. Labor activist Saleh Hosseini criticized the governor's remarks as accusations aimed at evading accountability. Additionally, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Masoud Pezeshkian, expressed condolences to the representatives of western provinces and urged officials to address the issues faced by kolbars. The letter also calls for an examination of how kolbars are treated in border areas, emphasizing that the Supreme Leader's call for combating smuggling does not target the weak kolbars who bring in low-value goods. Despite this, various reports continue to emerge annually about the deaths and injuries of kolbars due to gunfire from law enforcement. According to the Mokrian news agency, 53 kolbars were killed or injured in the first five months of this year in the border areas between Iran and Iraq. Last year, 29 kolbars were killed and another 29 were injured. The spokesperson for the police force dismissed reports of kolbars being killed as "lies" and accused foreign media of misrepresenting smugglers as kolbars to facilitate the entry of weapons and drugs into Iran. Human rights groups have condemned the direct and unprovoked shooting of kolbars as inhumane and have strongly criticized such actions by Iranian officials. In recent months, videos and images of the mass killing of horses and mules belonging to kolbars by police officers have also surfaced. In September, several representatives from Kurdistan province protested against the actions of the police force.