Kurdish father of three Shot by Police in NW Iran

International Liberty Association: An Iranian border porter or “kolbar” (in Kurdish) was killed while driving, by direct police fire in Salmas, northwestern Iran. According to the human rights supporters’ new agency, security forces shot and killed 37-year-old Behzad Hashemi, married and father to three children. According to an... Read More

At Least 21 Iranian Kolbars Shot Dead by IRGC within Five Months

International Liberty Association: Based on information compiled by the Iran human rights organisations, at least 21 porters (or back carriers) have been shot dead by revolutionary guards since 20 March 2020.This is an average of four porters per month and one porter every week getting killed by the IRGC. This figure does not include... Read More

Iran: Forces Kill Kurdish Men Carrying Goods to Earn a Living

International Liberty Association: Iran’s security forces shot and killed two Kurdish porters in the city of Khoy in West Azerbaijan Province on 28 May. According to the Kurdistan Human Rights activists, the two men – Mohsen Darvishzadeh, 26, and Ebrahim Jordizaj, 29, along with two other men were carrying a load of cigarettes with... Read More

IRGC Continues Arbitrary Killing of Kurdish Porters

Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) have opened fire on porters, killing and wounding them. The security forces on Saturday, 19 August, opened fire on a group of porters (known as “Kolbar”), killing a young man, Reza Ebrahimi, and wounded another one. It should be mentioned that a young porter was shot and injured on Friday by the border... Read More