On the fifth day of Esfand month, military forces affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the border areas of Sistan and Baluchestan province opened fire on a group of Baloch fuel smugglers. As a result, several of the smugglers were killed or injured. The deceased were fuel smugglers who would buy fuel from Iran and sell it in Pakistan to make a living. One of them, Mohammad Balochi, had planned to go to Pakistan that day. Many of his friends were either killed, injured, or arrested during the protests that followed. He has now sought refuge in Pakistan and cannot return to Iran due to lack of safety. He says, “I am a diesel transporter. ‘Fuel smuggler’ is a label given to us in Iran. We buy and sell diesel ourselves. We didn’t steal it or take it from anyone.”

He continues, “We buy fuel from gas stations and sell it. Wherever I buy

Structural discrimination

Underdevelopment of border provinces in Iran has led citizens in Sistan and Baluchestan and Kurdistan to take on low-paying jobs. Kolbari and fuel smuggling in Sistan and Baluchestan and Kurdistan are the result of denial and discrimination policies. People in these regions are deprived of even the most basic necessities of life. Usually, there is no access to water pipes, roads, and in most cases, schools, and children are unable to continue their education. Sometimes, some young people manage to reach higher levels of education without any facilities, but they are faced with discrimination and exclusion again. Being a border resident in Iran means facing denial and discrimination policies. Being a minority in Iran is considered an advantage. Those who are born unintentionally in border areas do not have a chance to obtain a government job. Therefore, they are forced to engage in kolbari and fuel smuggling. Being a kolbar or fuel smuggler is not the identity of Kurds and Baluchis, but

Razagh design

This plan, which according to officials was created to help the income of poor families in the region and prevent organized fuel smuggling, began in the city of Saravan in Sistan and Baluchestan province. Under this pilot plan, each border household is supplied with 200 liters of diesel at government rates per week. They can collect their quota at designated stations located 5 kilometers from the border, take it to Pakistan through designated routes, and sell it there. However, this plan faced difficulties in implementation, to the extent that six days after the killing of several Baloch fuel smugglers by border guards near Saravan, a government official criticized the head of the anti-smuggling task force for hindering the distribution of fuel within the framework of the “Razzaq” plan and said, “This plan has caused more harm to fuel smugglers in Sistan and Baluchestan.”

Kolbar and fuel smuggler

A “kolbar” is someone who crosses the border between two countries to transport goods in order to make a living. Kolbars are mostly active in the provinces of West Azerbaijan, Kurdistan, Kermanshah, and Ilam. They carry goods on their backs or use pack animals to cross the border and sell them in the markets of Kurdistan. Most of these goods are coolers, heaters, cigarettes, televisions, clothing, and textiles. People living in the eastern and western borders of Iran struggle with poverty, which leads to the emergence of kolbari and fuel smuggling. The root of this situation is discrimination. People in these areas are deprived of the privileges that are accessible in other parts of Iran. The living conditions in Tehran can never be compared to those in the border areas of Sistan and Baluchestan and Kurdistan. People in these regions are deprived of even the smallest recreational and welfare facilities.

Public thoughts

Following the killing and injuring of a number of fuel carriers in the border areas of Saravan and the protests and strikes of citizens in Sistan and Baluchestan province, thousands of users on social media launched a virtual campaign in support of the fuel carriers, using hashtags such as “Saravan is not alone” and “Do not kill the fuel carriers” to protest the living conditions of the fuel carriers. This campaign became the top trend in Iran. Previously, virtual hashtags in support of the porters have also become trends, but unfortunately, they have had no impact on the approach of border forces towards these citizens, and the day of the porters and fuel carriers become more victims. The different understanding of citizens from the phenomenon of portering and fuel carrying compared to the government and their approach towards this group in society is a consequence of the lack of democratic institutions and the dominance of authoritarianism in the country, which does not give importance to public opinion.