EAST KURDISTAN, — According to published figures 74 Kurdish workers had been killed by the Iranian Border Guards and 76 others injured in the last year.
Shedding lights on the predicament of Kurdish workers, International Campaign for Human Right in Iran has published the figures of those killed and injured last year.
According to the figures published by this institution, at least 70 Kurdish workers had lost their lives as result of direct shots of Iranian soldiers, 4 workers by mine explosion and harsh weathers.
Additionally, 76 workers have been injured by the gunfire.
What is more striking is that the Iranian soldiers do also shoot the horses and the mules used by the workers to carry goods.
Efforts by certain circles of civil activists and journalists led the case of Kurdish workers to be included in the report provided by Ahamad Shahid, the UN special rapporteur to Iran’s human right situation.
Kurdish journalists and the local people believe that due to the lack of data collection opportunities such a number might be even higher.
Widespread employment in the Kurdish areas in Iran which stems from absence of investment and government planning, has driven thousands of Kurdish youths working on the borders carrying goods on their backs into the country.
The Iranian Border Guards often ambush the workers opening fire on them, killing and wounding dozens each year. 150 workers killed or wounded last year.