Nine Iranian Kurdish cross-border porters known as Kolbar have reportedly been shot dead and wounded in the border areas between Iranian and Iraqi Kurdistan by the border guards since the beginning of August, a center for human rights reported.
According to the Center of Democracy and Human Rights in Kurdistan, most of the Kolbars except one who was wounded by a mine explosion, the rest have been killed and wounded of the direct shooting by border guards “without any warning.”
Kolbar are Kurdish cross-border porters carrying goods across the mountainous border areas from Iraqi Kurdistan Region to Iranian Kurdistan on their backs.
Iranian Regime considers the Kolbars as smugglers. They frequently come under the fire of Iranian border guards or risk their lives in the treacherous mountain passes and cold winter temperatures.
The Kurdish provinces of Iran are among the poorest in the country. Kolbars say they have no other choice, but to carry goods through the border as there is no other job.
The border points with the Kurdistan Region were temporarily closed by Iranian forces after an independence referendum was held on September 25.
