Fifteen-Year-Old Kolbar Soroush Rahmani Commits Suicide After Mules Killed By Regime’s Military Forces

On Wednesday, November 17, a 15-year-old kolbar (cross-border carrier) committed suicide by hanging after his mules were killed by regiment forces at the border.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Didban Iran News Agency, the boy has been identified as Soroush Rahmani, a resident of Hani Garmaleh village in Paveh County.

Reportedly, his house was held as collateral for bank debt. Rahmani had borrowed a small amount of money to buy mules to work as kolbar at border areas, so the regime’s killing of the mules effectively destroyed his livelihood.

HRANA’s annual human rights report has specifically documented cases in which military forces’ use of live ammunition against citizens has led to their injury or death. According to the 2020 report, other than material damages such as loss of pack animals due to road accidents, frost, or avalanche, 36 kolbars have been shot dead, and 109 have been injured by military forces and border guards.

 

University Professor Bijan Abdolkarimi Fired for Defending Pahlavi Monarchy

On Saturday, September 4, Bijan Abdolkarimi was fired from his position at the North Tehran Branch of Azad University

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Didban Iran, Abdolkarimi was dismissed from his position as associate professor in the Department of Philosophy for “defending Pahlavi monarchy”.

“He is not qualified to be a member of the faculty of the Islamic Azad University,” a section of the order states. “By this ruling, Bijan Abdolkarimi’s [teaching] code has been annulled since yesterday (Saturday, September 4), and the issued verdict is final and must be enforced.”

Bijan Abdolkarimi has 20 years of teaching experience. He is the director of the Culture Critique press and the translator of several books. According to Didban Iran, Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, the President of the Islamic Azad University, has issued a letter ordering a re-examination of Bijan Abdolkarimi’s file.

“The Supreme Board of Appeal examined the issue again and the execution of the sentence should be stopped until the hearing in the board,” Tehranchi said.