Interview with Ismail Kahrom following the heartbreaking murder of two environmentalists: They were given a "lethal shot"
Esmail Kahrom, while expressing regret over the murder of two Iranian environmentalists, Mehdi Majalal and Mikael Hashemi, in the Fileh Khaseh area of Zanjan, says that there are no specific regulations to adequately protect environmentalists in Iran.
Esmail Kahrom, a senior environmental expert, told VOA about the murder of the two Iranian environmentalists by two illegal hunters. The two environmentalists encountered a Nissan car while on patrol. The two occupants of the car, who were residents of the area, fled the area after being informed of the presence of the environmentalist vehicle, but returned at an opportune moment and shot at the environmentalist's vehicle.
According to Mr. Kahrom, Mehdi Majalal and Mikael Hashemi were injured in these shootings, and instead of taking them to health centers, the two illegal hunters found the two rangers in the car and shot them point blank.
He told VOA that three people have been arrested in the incident so far, and that environmental forces became suspicious of a person who was present in the area, and after his arrest, it was determined that the two illegal hunters were residents of the village of File Khaseh, who have now been arrested and have confessed to the murders of Mehdi Majalal and Mikael Hashemi.
According to news published on social networks and domestic Iranian media, on Monday, April 6, two environmentalists from Zanjan, Mehdi Majalal and Mikael Hashemi, were shot and killed by illegal hunters while chasing a Nissan car in the Fileh Khaseh protected area.
What is the solution?
According to Mr. Kahrom, over the past 42 years, 145 rangers have been killed and at least 310 others have been injured, some of them lifelong.
Explaining a solution to this age-old problem, this environmental expert said: "Weapons should be taken from the hands of rangers; if guns had saved the lives of rangers, we wouldn't have 145 killed rangers. On the other hand, not only has (weapons) not saved the lives of rangers, but this law on carrying weapons has not saved wildlife in this country and has destroyed our entire wildlife population."
Mr. Kahrom, who opposes the use and carrying of weapons by Iranian rangers, told VOA: "Weapons are provocative, and if the ranger does not have a weapon, they can recognize the violator from the car, report it to the judiciary, and the judiciary can investigate who these people were, and the issue will be resolved with a light fine, it will not lead to killing."
Based on available information, the small number of Iranian environmentalists compared to global standards in the face of the massive flood of illegal wildlife hunting gangs has been declared one of the main factors in the destruction of Iran's environment.
Experts believe that the lack of legal protection for conservationists has made illegal hunters more bold in their illegal activities.
Source: Voice of America
