Statement:
For decades, the Iraq-Iran border has served as a smuggling route, mainly to transport goods to Iran. Every night, hundreds of Koolbars; young Kurds living in west part of Iran cross the border into Iraq. For a few dollars a day, they risk their lives to majorly smuggle cigarettes. Koolbar is a term used by locals in the Kurdish region of Iran to refer to porters and people who illegally carry goods across the border to earn their living.
Due to the lack of job opportunities in this region, most of the people are busy in smuggling goods across the Iraq borders. This area is full of land mines left from Iran-Iraq war and besides life-threatening risks; Border Guard Commands strongly fight with them. They usually earn about 20 dollars in each of their commutes (a 6-hour walking route through the mountain). There is a famous sentence among them, “Border or Center” which means if they don’t smuggle, they have to go the capital city and doing low-ranking jobs far away from their hometown. As a result of such dangerous and excruciating practice, over 154 smugglers (were killed or injured in various incidents in 2016.
-
- Kulbars have changed the plastic covers of the smuggling goods in the middle of the journey, and left them in the mountain. The Covers are getting damaged during 3 hours of claiming mountains.
-
- Kulbars have to walk around 6 hours for each route. They get very exhausted due to a heavy parcels which they have to carry on their back while moving up and down through the mountains.
-
- Crowded and compact line of kulbars, is moving very slow due to the harsh, bumpy , tall uphill path right beside the mountain abyss
-
- harsh road, Heavy parcels, illegal activity, make his lives very fragile.
-
- Bloody print of mules foot. Like kulbars, mules are also get injured sometimes due to a harshness of the business. Roads are very slippery, specially when its snowing and Border patrol shoot both kulbar and their mules if they caught them.
-
- Kulbars are hiding as the scouting team found out that the Iranian border army waiting for them on the way.
-
- Road is bumpy and harsh and he has to walk for at least 6 hours to get to the final point
-
- A wide search by locals started right after 3 koolbars got stuck in snow storm in the border mountains of Iran and Iraq (Kurdistan Province). Koolbar is a term used by locals in the Kurdish region of Iran to refer to porters and people who illegally carry goods across the border to earn their living. 3 days after the search began, they found the frozen body of 14 year old Farhad Khosravi. and not much further his younger brother 14 year old Farhad Khosravi. First day, Hossein Karami was found alive but unconscious and was taken to the hospital while 18 year old Azad Khosravi; Farhad’s brother found dead close to him.
-
- The body of 14-year-old Farhad Khosravi; Iranian Koolbar was found after 3 days of wide search in the mountains between Iran and Iraq border. Koolbar is a term used by locals in the Kurdish region of Iran to refer to porters and people who illegally carry goods across the border to earn their living. locals started a search for three border porters or Koolbars stuck in a snow storm on December 17, 2019 and found Farhad frozen body after 3 days; died due to hyperthermia.
-
- Mules are very valuable for the smugglers, as they carry a heavy load of goods from Iraq to Iran through the mountain.
-
- Kulbars are relaxing for a bit every few hours and then they start again to climb. The faster ones have more time to seat and gain their energy back.
-
- This is the rondevu (meeteni) point in Uraman. Iranian Smugglers are receiving the goods which kulbars brought them all the way from Iraq through the mountains.
-
- Goods (Cigarettes) are being loaded to the trucks and soon they rush to the hidden storage in the close by village.
-
- Uraman village at sunset. Kulbars are resting and getting ready to start to get to the Iraqi site before sunrise.
-
- Night time, Kulbars are gathering at the village tea house to chat, drink tea and play some games.
-
- Kulbars, having a good time. Playing Domino and smoking Shisha.
-
- Night time, Kulbars are gathering at the village tea house to chat, drink tea and play some games.
-
- Kulbars, having a good time. Playing Domino and smoking Shisha.
-
- The plastic covers of the smuggled goods are being torn and left at the rondevu (meeting) point.
-
- Mules are extremely valuable for the smugglers, some of the goods are being transported by mules while the rest are being moved by Kulbars.
-
- The grave of a young Kulbar who had an accident during his smuggling work.
-
- Mules are extremely valuable for the smugglers, some of the goods are being transported by mules while the rest are being moved by Kulbars.
-
- The smugglers transfer mules from the village to the rondevu (meeting) point by their trucks.
-
- Lunch is very basic, little bit of bread, cheese, tomato and cucumber.
-
- he has to walk over 6 hours in a normal day to bring the parcel from the Gulf area in Iraq all the way to the Uraman in Iran through the mountain.
-
- Mules are extremely valuable for the smugglers, some of the goods are being transported by mules while the rest are being moved by Kulbars.
-
- The journey is not only risky as it is an illegal act, the mountain path is also extremely dangers. Kulbars have to be quite, fast and yet careful while passing through the valley.
-
- A wide search by locals started right after 3 koolbars got stuck in snow storm in the border mountains of Iran and Iraq (Kurdistan Province). Koolbar is a term used by locals in the Kurdish region of Iran to refer to porters and people who illegally carry goods across the border to earn their living. 3 days after the search began, they found the frozen body of 14 year old Farhad Khosravi. and not much further his younger brother 14 year old Farhad Khosravi. First day, Hossein Karami was found alive but unconscious and was taken to the hospital while 18 year old Azad Khosravi; Farhad’s brother found dead close to him.
-
- Little break before changing the plastic covers and start to move again.
-
- He is hitting the old injured mule to run. As if mule stay put, he is going to freeze and die and its bad for the mule and the business.
-
- Mules are extremely valuable for the smugglers, some of the goods are being transported by mules while the rest are being moved by Kulbars.
-
- Like kulbars, mules are also get injured sometimes due to a harshness of the business. Roads are very slippery, specially when its snowing and Border patrol shoot both kulbar and their mules if they caught them.
-
- Big smuggled parcels are being pulled by the Kulbars through the valley.
-
- Young Kulbar is running fast through the snowy downhill, while carrying a heavy parcel on his back.
-
- The plastic bag is torn and the clothes are thrown out on the snowy road. He is waiting for the help of other to bring him a new bag.
-
- Mules footprint in to the snow of the valley.
-
- A wide search by locals started right after 3 koolbars got stuck in snow storm in the border mountains of Iran and Iraq (Kurdistan Province). Koolbar is a term used by locals in the Kurdish region of Iran to refer to porters and people who illegally carry goods across the border to earn their living. 3 days after the search began, they found the frozen body of 14 year old Farhad Khosravi. and not much further his younger brother 14 year old Farhad Khosravi. First day, Hossein Karami was found alive but unconscious and was taken to the hospital while 18 year old Azad Khosravi; Farhad’s brother found dead close to him.
-
- Kulbars left their parcel in the valley and went back up the mountain to help the other elder kulbars with heavy parcels.
-
- He is about to win the game. Kulbars, having a good time. Playing Domino and smoking Shisha.
-
- Kulbars work as a team, they are helping each other to keep the speed right.
-
- It is time to hide. if border patrols catch the kulbars they are in big trouble.
-
- one of the kulbars take his time to pray before hit the road again.
-
- Each parcel is almost 70 to 80 kilos and they have to take them all the way from Iraqi village to the Iranian village through the 6 hours of dangerous walk in the mountain.
-
- He has tattoos; written in Farsi and it’s a man’s name ”Iraj” and the star of David on his hand.
-
- Break time to catch a breath, having a water and start moving again
-
- Mules are extremely valuable for the smugglers, some of the goods are being transported by mules while the rest are being moved by Kulbars.
-
- Mules are having few minutes of rest in the middle of the way.
-
- The smugglers checking his list and paying the Kulbar for his service.
-
- Little time to relax and gain energy in the middle of the way.
-
- Koolbars, at the local Cafe having a good time. Playing Domino and smoking Shisha before heading out to pass the border.
-
- Koolbars, at the local Cafe having a good time. Playing Domino and smoking Shisha before heading out to pass the border.
-
- Kulbars are hiding as the scouting team found out that the Iranian border army waiting for them on the way.
-
- Kulbars are hiding as the scouting team found out that the Iranian border army waiting for them on the way.
-
- He found few minutes for himself and started to pray.
-
- The funeral ceremony of 18 year old Azad Khosravi; Iranian Kurd koolbar who’s body founded frozen 3 days after the snow storm in the mountains between Iraq and Iran. Angry locals in the western province of Kurdistan chanted against the Iranian Government during the ceremony. Koolbar is a term used by locals in the Kurdish region of Iran to refer to porters and people who illegally carry goods across the border to earn their living.
-
- The funeral ceremony of 14 year old Farhad Khosravi; Iranian Kurd koolbar who’s body founded frozen 3 days after the snow storm in the mountains between Iraq and Iran. Angry locals in the western province of Kurdistan chanted against the Iranian Government during the ceremony. Koolbar is a term used by locals in the Kurdish region of Iran to refer to porters and people who illegally carry goods across the border to earn their living.
-
- A wide search by locals started right after 3 koolbars got stuck in snow storm in the border mountains of Iran and Iraq (Kurdistan Province). Koolbar is a term used by locals in the Kurdish region of Iran to refer to porters and people who illegally carry goods across the border to earn their living. 3 days after the search began, they found the frozen body of 18 year old Azad Khosravi and not much further his younger brother 14 year old Farhad Khosravi. Hossein Karami was found alive but unconscious and was taken to the hospital
-
- A wide search by locals started right after 3 koolbars got stuck in snow storm in the border mountains of Iran and Iraq (Kurdistan Province). Koolbar is a term used by locals in the Kurdish region of Iran to refer to porters and people who illegally carry goods across the border to earn their living. 3 days after the search began, they found the frozen body of 18 year old Azad Khosravi and not much further his younger brother 14 year old Farhad Khosravi. Hossein Karami was found alive but unconscious and was taken to the hospital
-
- A wide search by locals started right after 3 koolbars got stuck in snow storm in the border mountains of Iran and Iraq (Kurdistan Province). Koolbar is a term used by locals in the Kurdish region of Iran to refer to porters and people who illegally carry goods across the border to earn their living. 3 days after the search began, they found the frozen body of 18 year old Azad Khosravi and not much further his younger brother 14 year old Farhad Khosravi. Hossein Karami was found alive but unconscious and was taken to the hospital
-
- A wide search by locals started right after 3 koolbars got stuck in snow storm in the border mountains of Iran and Iraq (Kurdistan Province). Koolbar is a term used by locals in the Kurdish region of Iran to refer to porters and people who illegally carry goods across the border to earn their living. 3 days after the search began, they found the frozen body of 18 year old Azad Khosravi and not much further his younger brother 14 year old Farhad Khosravi. Hossein Karami was found alive but unconscious and was taken to the hospital
-
- A wide search by locals started right after 3 koolbars got stuck in snow storm in the border mountains of Iran and Iraq (Kurdistan Province). Koolbar is a term used by locals in the Kurdish region of Iran to refer to porters and people who illegally carry goods across the border to earn their living. 3 days after the search began, they found the frozen body of 18 year old Azad Khosravi and not much further his younger brother 14 year old Farhad Khosravi. Hossein Karami was found alive but unconscious and was taken to the hospital
