In Iran, brave protesters are remembering the Kurdish women who lost their lives at the hands of the regime on the anniversary of their deaths. This is met with repression.
There were protests in memory of Gina Masa Amini here in Cologne last Sunday, not only in Iran but around the world. Photo: Ying Tang/imago
Berlin Taz | Two years after the murder of “Zina” Masa Amini, a general strike in Iran remembers the young Kurdish woman. Amini, who was arrested and abused by moral police in September 2022 for not wearing her headscarf properly, died from her injuries on September 16, 2022. Her death sparked protests across Iran under the slogan “freedom for women.”
In several Kurdish cities in Iran, including Amini’s hometown of Saqez, shops were closed over the weekend. The regime reacted harshly, shutting down many businesses that took part in the strike to punish the strikers and suppress further protests, the human rights group Kurdpa reported. Participating in the strike carries great risks for the affected shop owners, who face strict sanctions from the authorities and, in the worst cases, imprisonment.
Despite these threatening circumstances, many continue to resist. Amini’s father took to Instagram Stories to thank the striking workers for their solidarity and courage, despite the fact that he and his family are under enormous pressure from the regime. Ahead of the anniversary, Amini’s parents were reportedly banned from visiting their daughter’s grave and were placed under house arrest. They were also threatened with arrest if they did not comply.
Amini’s parents were banned from visiting her grave ahead of the anniversary.
The regime also tried to make it impossible to hold memorial services at Amini’s grave. According to human rights group Hengaw, water from the Chera Base Dam flowed into the Sakes Riverbed, blocking access to the burial site.
Small protests in Tehran
The regime has also increased its police presence in several cities, including Saqqez, where large numbers of security forces are patrolling the streets. Massive drone surveillance has also been reported in Mahabad, a stronghold of resistance during the 2022 protests. Authorities have also stepped up internet censorship in Iran’s Kurdish region to block the spread of images and information about the protests.
Despite the repression, street protests took place in some cities. For example, Hengaw said, in Divandarreh, young people gathered and chanted slogans criticizing the regime. Several smaller demonstrations took place in the capital, Tehran, during which chants of “Life, freedom” were chanted.
As in previous years, many activists and relatives of those killed were arrested in an attempt to suppress protests ahead of the anniversary. Among those arrested was the mother of slain protester Shahriar Mohammadi. Authorities also pressured journalists not to report on the protests.
More than 400 people have been executed since the beginning of the year.
There is resistance even within prison walls. Last weekend, women protested in the women’s wing of the notorious Evin prison. More than 25 inmates chanted slogans such as “Women buy freedom” and sang protest songs. They reportedly burned their hijabs and went on a hunger strike in the prison yard.
Since the Women’s Freedom of Life protests began, at least 10 people have been executed in Iran for direct links to the protest movement. Many other protesters have also been threatened with execution. More than 400 people have been executed since the beginning of the year, including 15 women.
