HALABJA, Kurdistan Region — The killing of Aram Khalil, a 27-year-old Kurdish Kolbar, by Iraqi border guards at the unofficial Sipa border crossing in Halabja province’s Khurmal district on Sunday has ignited widespread anger and condemnation across the Kurdistan Region.
Aram Khalil, who had been working as a Kolbar, semi-legal porter, since the age of 17, was shot dead on the evening of August 18 while transporting goods across the perilous terrain. He was the breadwinner for his siblings following the death of their parents. Kolbars like Khalil, who cross dangerous borders to earn a meager living, have long faced harassment and violence from border guards of Iraq and Iran.
This latest killing has drawn fierce criticism from local officials and community leaders. Hamay Hama Saeed, a senior member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan Region’s Minister of Culture and Youth, condemned the actions of the border guards, stating that their role should be to protect people, not to kill them. He noted that this was not an isolated incident, recalling another case last year in which a Kolbar was also killed by Iraqi border guards in the same area.
Lahur Sheikh Jangi, leader of the People’s Front party, also denounced the killing. Speaking at Khalil’s funeral, Jangi criticized the ongoing smuggling activities conducted by officials, contrasting it with the violent treatment of Kolbars, who are merely trying to survive. He called for an end to the Turkish military’s advance into Duhok province and urged authorities to focus on curbing oil smuggling rather than targeting Kolbars.
The killing has also resonated within academic circles. Dr. Majid Khalil, an Assistant Professor at University of Sulaimani, took to Facebook to condemn the killing, describing Khalil as a symbol of the oppressed in the Kurdistan Region.
Kolbars, who carry goods across borders between Iran and the Kurdistan Region, endure hazardous conditions and face constant threats to their lives. According to Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, there have been 275 Kolbar casualties, including deaths and injuries, in 2024 alone.
The death of Aram Khalil has once again highlighted the precarious and often deadly conditions faced by the porters in the Region, prompting calls for urgent action to protect these vulnerable workers.
With reporting by Avin Atta, Zoom News reporter in Halabja.
