ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – A Kurdish man transporting goods across the Kurdistan Region’s border with Iran has been killed by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to a family member.
Bishwan was shot on Wednesday at the Shabadin border point, between Iran and the Kurdistan Region.
“It was 12:00 pm when the porters were coming down from the border point,” Bishwan’s uncle told Rudaw.
“Just one meter away from the valley, he [an Iranian soldier] started shooting at them and killed our son,” he said.
His uncle continued that Bishwan was hit by three bullets, one to his head and two others in his arm and neck.
Shabadin border point is an official border where authorized goods are carried across the border, Bishwan’s uncle added.
Dozens of Kurds known as Kolbar [those who carry goods on their backs] are transporting goods between Iranian Kurdistan and the Kurdistan Region.
Some of the borders are official while others are semi-official.
Several of these porters have been shot and killed by Iranian forces on accusations of smuggling in recent years.
The Kurdistan Region and Iran are in the process of licencing porters to transport goods across their border.
