Death of volunteer helping quake victims in Iran sparks protests
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Crowds of mourners paid their respects to a volunteer who was killed delivering aid to earthquake victims. His death has sparked protests by people accusing the Iranian government of failing to help those affected by the earthquake.
Abubakr Maroufi was driving a vanload of aid to earthquake victims in Sarpol-e Zahab when he died in a car accident.
News of his death drew Kurds into the streets of Kurdish cities in Rojhelat, Iranian Kurdistan, in rare protests.
“The Kurdish people are expressing their anger at the regime in Iran who have not helped the earthquake victims,” said the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI), an armed political party struggling for greater Kurdish rights in Iran.
The party said the protests, which they described as peaceful, also took on nationalist tones with people chanting slogans like “Our struggle and our unity” and “Kurdistan is one country.”
Maroufi was laid to rest Saturday morning.
A 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck the Iran-Kurdistan Region border on Sunday, killing 436 people and injuring over 10,000, according to official figures. Ten people were killed in the Kurdistan Region.
Kurds in Iran have complained that aid is slow or non-existent in some areas.
The Iranian Red Crescent reported that 51,000 tents, 30 tons of rice, and 256,000 bottles of water have been distributed, as of Thursday, amongst other aid.
“The emergency sheltering has been completed and the Iranian Red Crescent is screening for any gaps now,” the aid agency stated.
The Ministry of Health has sent 25 medical professionals to the quake-hit Kermanshah province to offer psychotherapy and counselling services, IRNA reported on Saturday.
Iran’s Supreme Leader has urged officials to spare no effort in delivering aid.
Abubakr Maroufi was driving a vanload of aid to earthquake victims in Sarpol-e Zahab when he died in a car accident.
News of his death drew Kurds into the streets of Kurdish cities in Rojhelat, Iranian Kurdistan, in rare protests.
“The Kurdish people are expressing their anger at the regime in Iran who have not helped the earthquake victims,” said the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI), an armed political party struggling for greater Kurdish rights in Iran.
The party said the protests, which they described as peaceful, also took on nationalist tones with people chanting slogans like “Our struggle and our unity” and “Kurdistan is one country.”
Maroufi was laid to rest Saturday morning.
Mr. Maroufi was laid to rest this morning by a large crowd expressing their gratitude towards his sacrifice for the freedom of #Kurdistan. pic.twitter.com/K1ikcH41G7
— Komala (@Komala_english) November 18, 2017
A 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck the Iran-Kurdistan Region border on Sunday, killing 436 people and injuring over 10,000, according to official figures. Ten people were killed in the Kurdistan Region.
Kurds in Iran have complained that aid is slow or non-existent in some areas.
The Iranian Red Crescent reported that 51,000 tents, 30 tons of rice, and 256,000 bottles of water have been distributed, as of Thursday, amongst other aid.
“The emergency sheltering has been completed and the Iranian Red Crescent is screening for any gaps now,” the aid agency stated.
The Ministry of Health has sent 25 medical professionals to the quake-hit Kermanshah province to offer psychotherapy and counselling services, IRNA reported on Saturday.
Iran’s Supreme Leader has urged officials to spare no effort in delivering aid.