Iran
Hussein Khalayi’s family and community sitting in the house built for them. Photo: Screengrab/Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan - Residents of a Kurdish region in Iran’s West Azerbaijan province have gifted a new home to the family of a Kolbar whose donated organs saved the lives of three people. This act of generosity came more than a year after the Kolbar's tragic accident, which left him in a coma before his passing.
The 23-year-old Hussein Khalayi was the sole breadwinner for his family, working as a Kolbar. He left behind a wife and child, along with disabled siblings.
Kolbars are semi-legal porters who transport untaxed goods across the Kurdistan Region-Iran border and sometimes the Iran-Turkey border. They are constantly targeted by Iranian border guards and are sometimes victims of natural disasters.
Khalayi was fatally injured when a horse kicked him while he was carrying a load between Iran’s Sardasht and Qaladze district in the Raniya administration of the Kurdistan Region. The blow caused him to fall, hitting his head on a stone and knocking him into a coma.
With no hope of recovery, his father decided to donate Khalayi’s organs, saving the lives of three people in desperate need, despite the organs being worth large sums of money in Iran.
“He did the greatest charity,” said clergyman Salam Gulnawaz, referring to the father, during an event held to pay respects to Khalayu’s family and acknowledge the community's efforts to collect money and purchase a new house for them.
Khalayi’s family had been living in poverty in a small house.
The father expressed gratitude, saying, "Because I worship God, I am wealthy.
“I thank all those who worked to build that house,” said Faqe Shwana Mahmoodzada, a community member.
The 23-year-old Hussein Khalayi was the sole breadwinner for his family, working as a Kolbar. He left behind a wife and child, along with disabled siblings.
Kolbars are semi-legal porters who transport untaxed goods across the Kurdistan Region-Iran border and sometimes the Iran-Turkey border. They are constantly targeted by Iranian border guards and are sometimes victims of natural disasters.
Khalayi was fatally injured when a horse kicked him while he was carrying a load between Iran’s Sardasht and Qaladze district in the Raniya administration of the Kurdistan Region. The blow caused him to fall, hitting his head on a stone and knocking him into a coma.
With no hope of recovery, his father decided to donate Khalayi’s organs, saving the lives of three people in desperate need, despite the organs being worth large sums of money in Iran.
“He did the greatest charity,” said clergyman Salam Gulnawaz, referring to the father, during an event held to pay respects to Khalayu’s family and acknowledge the community's efforts to collect money and purchase a new house for them.
Khalayi’s family had been living in poverty in a small house.
The father expressed gratitude, saying, "Because I worship God, I am wealthy.
“I thank all those who worked to build that house,” said Faqe Shwana Mahmoodzada, a community member.
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