According to Kolbarnews, Iranian regime forces killed a kolbar in Rojhilat (West Kurdistan, North-West Iran).

The 65-year-old kolbar, identified as Hasan Tofîq Zade, was killed with a firearm on July 26. He was living in the village of Sershiwi in Saqiz city. His body was taken to the Forensic Medicine Institute in Saqiz.

In the first six months of 2023, 18 kolbars lost their lives and 43 others were seriously injured.

Kolbars and kasibkars are targeted systematically by Iranian and Turkish security forces. Each year, dozens of them are killed with no punitive measures being taken. Apart from systematic attacks, kolbars are struggling to make a living under harsh weather conditions, dangerous geographical locations and mines.

Kolber or “kolbar” is derived from the Kurdish words “kol” and “bar”. Kol means “back”, bar means “load”. Kolbars make their living by carrying goods on their backs across dangerous borders. The goods they carry include cigarettes, mobile phones, blankets, household items, tea and rarely alcoholic beverages. They have to pass through dangerous roads between South Kurdistan and East Kurdistan. The goods brought are sold at relatively high prices in commercial centres such as Tehran. However, kolbars who carry out the transportation of goods at the expense of their lives receive a very small amount of wages.

Kasibkar refers to those people who receive the goods kolbars carry to South Kurdistan and find buyers in towns.

Kolbarnews began recording killings and injuring of kolbars in the border areas of Kurdistan on 17 July 2017. Since then, Kolbarnews has registered 1,344 incidents: 341 kolbars were killed and 1,003 injured. 998 cases (equivalent to 74%) were the result of direct military shootings.

From the beginning of 2023 to 17 July, Kolbarnews registered 11 kolbars killed and 59 injured, for a total of 70 incidents.

The following are the incidents registered by year:

From 17 July to 31 December 2017

Killed: 16

Injured: 31

Total: 47

Year 2018

Killed: 70

Injured: 158

Total: 228

Year 2019

Killed: 80

Injured: 183

Total: 263

Year 2020

Killed: 67

Injured: 163

Total: 230

Year 2021

Killed: 54

Injured: 167

Total: 221

Year 2022

Killed: 43

Injured: 215

Total: 258