{"id":16942,"date":"2026-08-29T09:24:46","date_gmt":"2026-08-29T09:24:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english.bashariyat.org\/?p=16942"},"modified":"2026-08-30T09:56:56","modified_gmt":"2026-08-30T09:56:56","slug":"statement-1672-by-defense-of-the-rights-of-iranian-ethnics-and-nations-committee-on-shoulder-carriers-and-fuel-carriers-silent-victims-of-the-islamic-republic-of-irans-border-policies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english.bashariyat.org\/?p=16942","title":{"rendered":"Statement 1672 by Defense of the Rights of Iranian Ethnics and Nations Committee on Shoulder Carriers and Fuel Carriers: Silent Victims of the Islamic Republic of Iran&#8217;s Border Policies"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/english.bashariyat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1.jpg\" width=\"577\" height=\"110\" \/><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Shoulder Carriers and Fuel Carriers: Silent Victims of the Islamic Republic of Iran&#8217;s Border Policies<\/span><\/h4>\n<p id=\"p-rc_bffa27b0d1fb5956-370\" data-path-to-node=\"2\"><span data-path-to-node=\"2,0\">Shoulder carrying in Kurdish-populated regions and fuel carrying in Sistan and Baluchestan have long been bound up with poverty, unemployment, discrimination, and structural deprivation, becoming one of the main ways for a portion of the population in these areas to earn a living<\/span><span data-path-to-node=\"2,2\">. Driven to these high-risk activities primarily by a lack of employment opportunities and economic pressure, individuals face hazards along border routes including military fire, landmines, falls from heights, and road accidents<\/span><span data-path-to-node=\"2,4\">. According to human rights organizations, at least 16 shoulder carriers and fuel carriers were killed or injured due to these dangers in the first six months of 2026: 9 died and 7 were injured<\/span><span data-path-to-node=\"2,6\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"2\"><!--more--><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"3\"><strong>Annual Statistics<\/strong><\/p>\n<p id=\"p-rc_bffa27b0d1fb5956-371\" data-path-to-node=\"4\"><span data-path-to-node=\"4,0\">According to the annual report of the Statistics Center of Human Rights Activists in Iran, in 2025-2026, at least 8 shoulder carriers were involved in incidents due to border route hazards, geographical\/climatic conditions, and military chases, resulting in 4 deaths and 4 injuries<\/span><span data-path-to-node=\"4,2\">. Additionally that year, direct gunfire by military forces led to the deaths of 15 shoulder carriers and 23 fuel carriers, and injured 22 shoulder carriers and 13 fuel carriers<\/span><span data-path-to-node=\"4,4\">. <\/span><span data-path-to-node=\"5,0,0,0\"><strong>Killed shoulder carriers include:<\/strong> Mohammad Rahimi, Rahman Rasoulzadeh, Rebwar Mohammadzadeh, Mehdi Sharifi, and others<\/span><span data-path-to-node=\"5,0,0,2\">. <\/span><span data-path-to-node=\"5,1,0,0\"><strong>Killed Fuel carriers include:<\/strong> Rahman Zarozehi, Davoud Zarozehi, Abdul-Rashid Fazeli, Masoud Golehpacheh, and others<\/span><span data-path-to-node=\"5,1,0,2\">. <\/span><span data-path-to-node=\"5,2,0,0\">In additional 84 fuel carriers were involved in incidents during military chases or related road accidents<\/span><span data-path-to-node=\"5,2,0,2\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"6\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>May\u2013July 2026: <\/strong><\/span><span data-path-to-node=\"7,0\">During the May and July 2026, at least 10 Shoulder carriers and fuel carriers were targeted by military gunfire<\/span><span data-path-to-node=\"7,2\">. Published reports indicate that 3 shoulder carriers and 3 fuel carriers lost their lives, while 3 shoulder carriers and 1 fuel carriers were injured<\/span><span data-path-to-node=\"7,4\">. <\/span><span data-path-to-node=\"8,0,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"8,0,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Identified deceased:<\/b> Salah Khoshnamak, Vazir Rahimi, Matlab Kheyberi, Gohram Gomshadzehi, Yaser Ozbakzehi, and Abdul-Basit Karangesh<\/span><span data-path-to-node=\"8,0,0,2\">. <\/span><span data-path-to-node=\"8,1,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"8,1,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Zaniar Irannejad:<\/b> A 28-year-old shoulder carrier from Sardasht, died in July 2026 following direct gunfire by border guards in the Tateh heights on the Hawraman border<\/span><span data-path-to-node=\"8,1,0,2\">. <\/span><span data-path-to-node=\"9,0\">Among the victims, <b data-path-to-node=\"9,0\" data-index-in-node=\"19\">Abdul-Basit Karangesh was only 15 years old<\/b>, highlighting once again the urgent need for a serious and independent investigation into the use of firearms against shoulder carriers<\/span><span data-path-to-node=\"9,0\"> and fuel carriers<\/span><span data-path-to-node=\"9,2\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"10\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Gap Between Words and Actions: <\/strong><\/span><span data-path-to-node=\"11,0\">In April and May 2016, Ali Khamenei, the former Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, stated regarding anti-smuggling efforts that &#8220;smuggling&#8221; did not refer to &#8220;the vulnerable shoulder carriers&#8221;, and that actions should target large smuggling networks and gangs<\/span><span data-path-to-node=\"11,2\">. He also cited poverty, unemployment, and livelihood needs as factors driving many into shoulder carrying<\/span><span data-path-to-node=\"11,4\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"p-rc_bffa27b0d1fb5956-380\" data-path-to-node=\"12\"><span data-path-to-node=\"12,0\">Despite these statements, military shootings of shoulder carriers and fuel carriers have continued unabated in subsequent years<\/span><span data-path-to-node=\"12,2\">. This situation, demonstrates the gap between official acknowledgment of economic conditions and practical actions on the ground<\/span><span data-path-to-node=\"12,4\">. shoulder carrying and fuel carrying cannot be viewed purely through a security and law enforcement perspective<\/span><span data-path-to-node=\"12,6\">. When poverty, unemployment, and lack of sustainable jobs drive people to dangerous border activities, the sustainable solution lies in creating jobs, eliminating discrimination, and providing decent living conditions\u2014not firearms and force<\/span><span data-path-to-node=\"12,8\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"13\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Legal and Human Rights Commitments: <\/strong><\/span>The current situation conflicts with several principles of the <strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran<\/span><\/strong>:<\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"15\">\n<li>\n<p id=\"p-rc_bffa27b0d1fb5956-381\" data-path-to-node=\"15,0,0\"><span data-path-to-node=\"15,0,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"15,0,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Article 3, Clause 9:<\/b> Obligates the government to eliminate unfair discrimination and provide fair opportunities for all<\/span><span data-path-to-node=\"15,0,0,2\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p id=\"p-rc_bffa27b0d1fb5956-382\" data-path-to-node=\"15,1,0\"><span data-path-to-node=\"15,1,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"15,1,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Article 3, Clause 12:<\/b> Emphasizes laying down a sound and fair economy aimed at creating welfare, eradicating poverty, and removing deprivation, including in employment<\/span><span data-path-to-node=\"15,1,0,2\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-path-to-node=\"16\">From an international human rights perspective, citing the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><b data-path-to-node=\"16\" data-index-in-node=\"59\">Universal Declaration of Human Rights<\/b><\/span>:<\/p>\n<ul data-path-to-node=\"17\">\n<li>\n<p id=\"p-rc_bffa27b0d1fb5956-383\" data-path-to-node=\"17,0,0\"><span data-path-to-node=\"17,0,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"17,0,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Article 2:<\/b> Non-discrimination<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p id=\"p-rc_bffa27b0d1fb5956-384\" data-path-to-node=\"17,1,0\"><span data-path-to-node=\"17,1,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"17,1,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Article 3:<\/b> Right to life<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p id=\"p-rc_bffa27b0d1fb5956-385\" data-path-to-node=\"17,2,0\"><span data-path-to-node=\"17,2,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"17,2,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Article 23:<\/b> Right to work security<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p id=\"p-rc_bffa27b0d1fb5956-386\" data-path-to-node=\"17,3,0\"><span data-path-to-node=\"17,3,0,0\"><b data-path-to-node=\"17,3,0,0\" data-index-in-node=\"0\">Article 25:<\/b> Right to food, housing, medical care, and necessary social services for all<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"p-rc_bffa27b0d1fb5956-387\" data-path-to-node=\"18\"><span data-path-to-node=\"18,0\">Furthermore, <b data-path-to-node=\"18,0\" data-index-in-node=\"13\">Goal 8 of the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030<\/span><\/b> emphasizes sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all<\/span><span data-path-to-node=\"18,2\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"p-rc_bffa27b0d1fb5956-388\" data-path-to-node=\"20\"><span data-path-to-node=\"20,0\">We, as human rights activists, condemn armed violence against shoulder carriers and fuel carriers and demand an immediate end to shootings and all violent conduct against them<\/span><span data-path-to-node=\"20,2\">. Instead of an enforcement and security approach, the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran is obligated to adopt effective economic and social policies to ensure sustainable employment, eliminate discrimination, and guarantee decent livelihoods for border region residents so that making a living does not force individuals to accept the deadly risks of shoulder carrying and fuel carrying<\/span><span data-path-to-node=\"20,4\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"p-rc_bffa27b0d1fb5956-389\" data-path-to-node=\"21\"><span data-path-to-node=\"21,0\">Protecting human lives and providing decent living conditions must not depend on location, economic status, or type of livelihood activity<\/span><span data-path-to-node=\"21,2\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4069\" data-end=\"4151\"><strong data-start=\"4069\" data-end=\"4113\">Defense of Human Rights Association in Iran<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4069\" data-end=\"4151\"><strong data-start=\"4116\" data-end=\"4151\">Defense of the Rights of Iranian Ethnics and Nations Committee<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4069\" data-end=\"4151\">Translated by Alireza Jahan Bin<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Shoulder Carriers and Fuel Carriers: Silent Victims of the Islamic Republic of Iran&#8217;s Border Policies Shoulder carrying in Kurdish-populated regions and fuel carrying in Sistan and Baluchestan have long been bound up with poverty, unemployment, discrimination, and structural deprivation, becoming one of the main ways for a portion of the population in these areas to &hellip; <\/p>\n<p><a class=\"more-link btn\" href=\"https:\/\/english.bashariyat.org\/?p=16942\">Continue reading<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16942","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-announcements","item-wrap"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/english.bashariyat.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16942","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/english.bashariyat.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/english.bashariyat.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english.bashariyat.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english.bashariyat.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16942"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/english.bashariyat.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16942\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16944,"href":"https:\/\/english.bashariyat.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16942\/revisions\/16944"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/english.bashariyat.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16942"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english.bashariyat.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16942"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english.bashariyat.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16942"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}