Strikes Across Kurdistan in Protest Against Executions

On Wednesday, January 22, shopkeepers and merchants across Kurdistan launched a strike to protest against the death sentences issued by the Islamic regime. This organized demonstration faced threats of shop closures and conflicting reports from regime-linked sources, highlighting the tense environment surrounding the protests.

Strikes Against Executions: A Pattern in Kurdistan

This isn’t the first time the people and businesses of Kurdistan have taken collective action against violence and injustice. Such strikes often follow calls from Kurdish political parties advocating for justice and opposition to oppressive practices.

This time, Kurdish political groups urged the public to protest the death sentences issued against Pakhshan Azizi and Verisheh Moradi, two Kurdish activists, by participating in a general strike.

Activists at Risk

Pakhshan Azizi, a political activist and social worker, was sentenced to death by Judge Iman Afshari in a rushed trial. Following a hasty Supreme Court confirmation, her execution looms. Similarly, Vrisheh Moradi, a women’s and children’s rights advocate and a member of the Free Women’s Society of Eastern Kurdistan (KJAR), was sentenced to death by Judge Salavati.

Concerns over these imminent executions have triggered widespread protests and public statements, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.

Coordinated Response from Kurdish Political Parties

In a joint statement, six Kurdish political parties called for a general strike across Kurdistan on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, urging citizens to close markets, workplaces, and schools in a unified stand against the death sentences. The statement emphasized the importance of collective action to prevent these executions, describing the strike as a key step in resisting state violence.

Widespread Participation Across Kurdistan

Videos circulating on social media showed that many merchants in cities such as Sanandaj, Marivan, Saqqez, Mahabad, Bukan, Divandarreh, Kermanshah, Baneh, and Islamabad Gharb kept their shutters down in solidarity. These acts of defiance reflect the significant support for the strike within the region.

Meanwhile, Tasnim News Agency, aligned with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), dismissed reports of the strikes as “fabrications” and claimed the public ignored the political parties’ calls. However, this narrative was contradicted by widespread evidence on social media.

Regime Tactics and Counterclaims

On the morning of the strike, Tasnim reported a supposed delay in Pakhshan Azizi’s sentence, citing unnamed sources from the National Security Council. While some unofficial channels interpreted this as a victory for the strike, no credible source has confirmed the delay. The regime has previously spread contradictory and false information about executions to sow confusion and disrupt public organization.

Simultaneously, security forces marked shops participating in the strike and issued closure warnings. According to the Kurdistan Press Agency (Kurdpa), security forces in Saqqez used spray paint and seals to threaten businesses with closure.

A History of Resistance

This isn’t the first call for a general strike by Kurdish political parties. During the Zhina Uprising, particularly in its early stages, several cities in Kurdistan embraced similar calls to action. In some instances, merchants in other parts of Iran joined these strikes, further amplifying the movement’s impact.

The recent joint statement by Kurdish parties framed the strike as a peaceful and civic method to counter oppression and demonstrate unity. It underscored the broader social and economic hardships imposed by the regime, including inflation, unemployment, and poverty, alongside its political repression.

Conclusion: Strikes as Civil Resistance

In their statement, Kurdish political parties highlighted the general strike as a non-violent strategy to challenge state repression and prevent executions. They stressed that in the face of escalating economic and political crises, the Islamic regime has chosen to wield the death penalty as a tool against dissent, particularly targeting activists in Kurdistan and across Iran.

The success of these strikes lies in their ability to unite communities, disrupt oppressive systems, and draw attention to state violence. Whether these efforts will yield the desired results remains uncertain, but they serve as a stark reminder of the resilience and resistance within Kurdistan.