Soldiers along the border of Iran and Turkey (in Çilli District/Çiliya Jore in Van) reportedly killed Şefik Bağa. Residents in the neighbourhood stated that the sound of gunfire could be heard from a location close to the border last night. The residents travelled to the area where Şefik Bağa was reportedly killed by gunfire.

Azat Bağa, Şefik Bağa’s son who is engaged in the border trade, had been seriously injured earlier as a result of being shot by soldiers whilst he was grazing his sheep on 16 July. He had to be treated in hospital for several days.

Kurds engaged in the border trade continue to be killed by soldiers along the Turkish-Iranian border. On 3 August, for example, it was also reported that İbrahim Baykara (46), a father of six, had been killed by gunfire from soldiers in the same neighbourhood.

Amidst speculation as to which state’s soldiers were responsible for the killing of Şefik Bağa, Karınca newspaper reported the response of Van Governorate. The Governorate stated that as kalashnikov rifles are not used by Turkish border units, Baykara was killed by fire from the Iranian side.