Reza Satiarvand, a “Shouti” transporter from Majin, a district in Darreh Shahr County of Ilam Province, died after his car overturned during a military chase in Ahvaz.
According to Kolbarnews, on Saturday, October 19, 2024, Reza Satiarvand, approximately 28 years old, lost his life when his vehicle overturned while being pursued by military forces in Ahvaz. Satiarvand, who previously worked for the Pol-e Dokhtar Health Network, had resigned after a contractor change led to reduced wages, and turned to “Shouti” work to make a living.
“Shoutis” are private cars used to transport goods brought through unofficial channels to cities across Iran. Many “Shouti” drivers, like Satiarvand, are young individuals struggling with unemployment and systemic government discrimination. Due to poverty, many risk their lives to earn a living through this dangerous occupation. The widespread poverty and high unemployment rates in southern, southwestern, eastern, and western Iran contribute to the rise of “Shouti” work.
Men and women, particularly from provinces like Bushehr (especially Bandar Ganaveh), Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad (especially Gachsaran), Lorestan, Fars, Kerman, Baluchistan, Kurdistan, Kermanshah, Ilam, and West Azerbaijan, have turned to this work out of necessity, driven by economic hardship, mismanagement of water resources, and the destruction of agricultural opportunities due to drought.
