A 30-year-old Baloch fuel carrier, Yousef Kabdani, was shot and killed on May 10, 2025, by Mersad forces near Rayen, a district in Kerman province. According to the Balochistan Human Rights Group (BHRG), the incident occurred approximately 10 kilometers from Rayen when Mersad agents, using unmarked vehicles, pursued and opened fire on Kabdani’s car. The gunfire caused the vehicle to lose control, overturn, and catch fire. Kabdani died at the scene due to gunshot wounds and the severity of his injuries.
Kabdani, the son of Seddiq and a resident of Iranshahr, was engaged in fuel transport—a common but dangerous form of livelihood in southeastern Iran, especially among the marginalized Baloch community.
This tragic incident adds to a disturbing pattern highlighted in BHRG’s 2024 annual report, which documented at least 479 Baloch fuel carriers killed or injured over the past year. Of this number, 253 individuals lost their lives and 226 were wounded. The report attributes 136 of these casualties to direct shootings and vehicle chases by Iranian military or security forces. In addition, 3 fuel carriers were killed and 7 injured in attacks by unidentified armed individuals or robbers. Other fatal incidents include 2 deaths by drowning during fuel smuggling and 3 deaths caused by vehicle fires.
The continued targeting and criminalization of Baloch fuel carriers reflects the broader human rights challenges faced by ethnic minorities in Iran, particularly in underdeveloped regions such as Sistan and Balochistan.
Source: Balochistan Human Rights Group
