Continued Security Climate in Saqez and Increased Arrests on the Anniversary of 'Women, Life, Freedom' Protests

On the eve of the second anniversary of the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests, reports indicate the arrest of several more citizens and restricted access to Aichi Cemetery; Iranians in various cities around the world also held gatherings. Various sources, including the Hengaw website, reported on Saturday, September 15, that security forces blocked access to Aichi Cemetery and Mahsa Amini's grave by releasing water from the 'Chiragh Vis' dam into the Saqez riverbed, similar to last year. Amjad Amini, Mahsa Amini's father, had previously told Radio Farda that their family intends to hold a ceremony for the second anniversary of their daughter's death in custody of the morality police on Sunday, September 16, at Aichi Cemetery. Meanwhile, human rights sources reported continued arrests. According to reports from HRA News, Hengaw, and Kurdish media, at least four more citizens were arrested in Divandareh County in Kurdistan Province on Friday and Saturday, September 15 and 16. Ramyar Moradi was arrested on Saturday, and his brother, Maziar Moradi, along with two other citizens named Pedram Mahmoudi and Milad Pirani, were arrested on Friday. Hengaw reported that the number of recent arrests in Divandareh alone has reached at least eight. In recent days, other reports of citizen arrests in cities such as Sanandaj, Marivan, Baneh, and Boukan have also emerged. These arrests were made without judicial warrants or charges being mentioned, and officials from the Republic have not commented on the matter. A large number of political and civil activists and various parties have issued calls for a general strike in the cities of Kurdistan Province and other cities in Iran on Sunday, coinciding with the anniversary of Mahsa Jina Amini's death in the custody of the morality police. Iranians in various cities around the world held gatherings on Saturday ahead of the second anniversary of Mahsa Jina Amini's death. These gatherings took place in cities such as Sydney and Brisbane in Australia, Tokyo in Japan, and various European cities including London, Strasbourg, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Bern, Groningen, Hamburg, Gothenburg, and Amsterdam. Gatherings in some cities in the United States and Canada began on Saturday evening and are set to continue on Sunday in other cities in these two countries. Meanwhile, the Iranian Writers' Association issued a statement on the occasion of the second anniversary of Mahsa Jina Amini's death and the protests that followed, expressing their support for the 'legitimate demands of the people, the seekers of justice, and political prisoners.' In a statement published on Saturday, September 15, they emphasized: 'What emerged after the murder of Mahsa (Jina) Amini has helped the enduring freedom-seeking movement of the Iranian people navigate through the most difficult challenges.' The Iranian Writers' Association also referred to 'the new show that the government has begun after the recent elections,' stating that the Islamic Republic continues to pursue the 'continuation of the suppression of freedom' based on documents such as the Seventh Development Plan and is also passing laws that 'further enable interference in people's lives and make living freely impossible.'