General strikes in Iran's Kurdistan Province against unjust executions
GVF -- Following a call by various groups, factions as well as civil and political activists, Iranian Kurds have staged a general strike in Iran’s Kurdish cities to protest the sudden and inhumane butchering of five political activists on Sunday 9 May. It should be noted that four of those executed unjustly were Iranian Kurds, including teacher Farzad Kamangar and Shirin Alam Houli.
According to a committee in charge of organising strikes and protests in Iran’s Kurdistan province, tractors in various Kurdish cities have been distributing pictures of the executed activists and calling for a general strike in different cities and villages of Iran’s Kurdistan Province.
Security forces have been deployed in the central districts of the mentioned cities and many streets in these cities have become deserted as most residents have decided not to leave their homes today. State forces have also been threatening shopkeepers in the Bazaars and demanding an end to strikes. It has been reported that anti-riot forces from neighbouring provinces have been deployed in the area and have led to a further escalation of the tense situation in the Iran’s Kurdish majority cities.
The Committee for Protests and General Strikes in the Cities of Kurdistan has also reported that the Revolutionary Guards of Kurdistan Province have requested the deployment of more IRGC forces in from the nearby cities of Hamedan and Zanjan. It has also been reported that two individuals by the names of Naser Rahmani and Karim Rahim Sara have been arrested in the city of Saghez.
The report also adds that in Kamyaran, the hometown of Farzad Kamangar, many are moving towards Farzad Kamangar’s home in the city and the number of people gathering at the place is on the rise. There is a very strong security presence in many majority Kurdish cities in Iran and security forces are one of the only groups patrolling the streets and neighbourhoods in these cities.
Video and pictures from strike in Sanandaj city in Iran's Kurdistan Province:
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