Interview with Ismail Kahrom Following the Tragic Killing of Two Rangers: They Delivered the ‘Coup de Grâce’

Ismail Kahrom, while expressing regret over the killing of two Iranian rangers named “Mahdi Mojallal” and “Mikayil Hashemi” in the Fileh Khasse region of Zanjan, states that there are no adequate specific regulations to protect rangers in Iran.

Ismail Kahrom, a senior environmental expert, told Voice of America regarding the killing of these two Iranian rangers by two unauthorized hunters that the two rangers encountered a Nissan vehicle during a patrol. The two occupants of this vehicle, who were residents of that area, fled the region when they became aware of the environment department vehicle’s presence, but returned at an opportune moment and opened fire on the ranger vehicle.

According to Mr. Kahrom, Mahdi Mojallal and Mikayil Hashemi were wounded in these shootings, and instead of taking the two rangers to health centers, the two unauthorized hunters pulled them out of the vehicle and delivered a coup de grâce to them.

Referring to the fact that three people have been arrested so far in this incident, he told Voice of America that ranger forces became suspicious of a person who was present in that area, and after his arrest, it became clear that the two unauthorized hunters are residents of Fileh Khasse village who are currently detained and have confessed to killing Mahdi Mojallal and Mikayil Hashemi.

According to reports published on social media networks and Iranian domestic media, on Monday, the 16th of Farvardin, two rangers from Zanjan named Mahdi Mojallal and Mikayil Hashemi, lost their lives while pursuing a Nissan vehicle in the protected area of Fileh Khasse, shot by unauthorized hunters.

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 wounded, injuries that in some cases are permanent.

This environmental expert, in explaining a solution to this age-old problem, said: “Weapons must be taken from the hands of rangers; if weapons protected ranger lives, we would not have 145 murdered rangers, and on the other hand, not only have (weapons) failed to protect ranger lives, but this law of carrying weapons has also failed to preserve wildlife in this country and has destroyed all of our wildlife population.”

Mr. Kahrom, who opposes the use and carrying of weapons by Iranian rangers, told Voice of America: “Weapons are provocative, and if rangers do not carry weapons, they can identify violators from their vehicle, report to the judicial authority, and the judiciary can investigate who these people were and the issue would be resolved with a light fine. It would not come to killing and bloodshed.”

Based on available information, the small number of rangers in Iran compared to international standards against the massive wave of unauthorized wildlife poaching gangs has been cited as one of the main factors in the destruction of Iran’s environment.

Experts believe that the lack of judicial support for rangers has made unauthorized hunters bolder in carrying out illegal activities.

Source: Voice of America