Four United Nations human rights experts have called on Iranian authorities to stop the use of lethal force against Kurdish Kolbars and Baloch Sukhtbars, describing the reported killings as unlawful and calling for independent investigations into every death attributed to security forces.
The UN experts said Kolbars and Sukhtbars are among Iran’s most economically marginalized communities, with many relying on transporting goods and fuel across border areas to support their families. They said poverty and the lack of alternative livelihoods should not put people’s lives at risk.
According to information received by the experts, at least 12 Kolbars have reportedly been killed by Iranian border forces or the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps since the beginning of 2026. Seven Kolbars were reportedly killed by direct gunfire during the two months preceding the statement, with several allegedly shot at close range and without warning. Some were reportedly carrying no goods when they were shot.
The statement also referred to the cases of Madeh Kermani, 44, from Marivan, who was reportedly shot on July 28 while carrying nothing, and Milad Tabad, 28, who died on August 18 after reportedly being shot in the head by border forces nearly a year earlier. The experts said forensic records in Kermani’s case contradicted the explanation given to his family that he had died after falling from the border heights.
The UN experts also reported that at least 13 Baloch Sukhtbars were killed between January and August 2026 in incidents involving shootings, pursuits and other actions by military and security forces. They stressed that even when individuals are suspected of violating customs laws, such conduct does not constitute a threat to life and cannot justify the use of firearms.
The experts further noted that Iranian authorities do not publish official statistics on deaths among Kolbars and Sukhtbars. As a result, documenting the deaths has largely been left to families and civil society organizations.
They said each death attributed to security forces requires a prompt, independent and impartial investigation, while families are entitled to truth, accountability and reparation.
The UN experts concluded that Kolbars and Sukhtbars should not have to risk their lives to earn a living, calling for conditions that allow these communities to secure their livelihoods without being exposed to lethal force at Iran’s borders.
