Iranian border forces killed a kolbar identified as Rebwar Rashidi when they targeted a group of kolbars in the border area of Barvish Kani in Baneh, Kurdistan province, on 26 August.
“Rashidi was shot at from close range by the forces of the Hojreh border post while returning from the border without prior warning”, said a friend of the kolbar in an interview with the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN).
According to this friend of the kolbar, Rashidi was hit with a single bullet and was killed on the spot.
The 34-year-old kolbar was a resident of Baneh and the father of a 3-year-old daughter. His wife is pregnant and is expecting their second child in about a month.
The source added: “Rashidi used to work as a plumber in Baneh, but due to unemployment, he was working as a kolbar in the border areas of Baneh for the past four years.”
Since late July, Baneh border forces shot and killed at least five kolbars and injured 12 others.
In addition, three other kolbars were severely injured due to the explosion of landmines in the border areas of Baneh.
During a visit to Baneh border posts in the past month, the commander of Iran’s border forces Ahmad Ali Godarzi said: “Baneh borders from Haftash to Barvishkani will be closed in the next two months and we have ordered that no one should cross the border without permission of the border guards. If anyone violates the law, they will be treated harshly.”
