MESOPOTAMIA NEWS THE WEEKS KURDISTAN (IRAN) REPORT

Iran  26 June 2019

Fires continue to deal significant damage to the Iranian Kurdish region’s ecosystem in the vicinity of the Zagros Mountains. A Kurdistan Human Rights Association (KMMK) report claims about 2,400 different types of trees have burned in the region. The fires have also affected numerous wildlife species. Kurdish environmental organizations and activists blame the Iranian regime for failing to provide fire control equipment. Arson attacks have also targeted Kurdish-owned farmlands in the region and destroyed thousands of acres of agricultural land in 2019. On Tuesday, a new wave of arson attacks damaged or destroyed 250 acres of farmland in Kermanshah, Sanandaj, and Ilam.

Last Tuesday, Iranian border guards ambushed a group of Kurdish porters known as Kolbars in the Hawraman region. The Kolbars suffered no casualties but were forced to flee the scene and abandon their cargo. Iranian border guards also confiscated 25 Kolbar-owned horses near Oshnavieh (Shino). The Iranian regime has killed 40 Kolbars and wounded 73 since January 1, 2019.

The Iranian Islamic Court of Sanandaj sentenced a Kurdish man to five years in prison for “membership of the opposition party” last week. The Kurdish rights group Hengaw reported that Mohammed Kanani was arrested by Iranian intelligence officers (Etela’at) and held for 100 days before being released on bail. Also, in Sanandaj, Iranian authorities imposed a travel ban on a Kurdish environmental activist named Afsheen Shikhol. Simultaneously, three civilians were arrested by the Etela’at in Naqadeh and Bokan cities for “membership in Kurdish parties.” In Urmia, the fate of a Kurdish political activist, Esmaat Salsahour, remains unknown following his arrest by the Etela’at, as the Iranian regime refuses to release any update regarding his status or location of confinement. Salhashour was arrested for “aiding Kurdish opposition parties.”

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