Exclusive: Zhila Mostajer Reports That Bank Accounts of Striking Merchants in Mahabad Have Been Frozen

Zhila Mostajer, a board member of the Hengaw Human Rights Organization, reported in an interview with Voice of America that the bank accounts of several striking merchants in Mahabad have been frozen. According to this human rights activist, the bank accounts of merchants in Mahabad's market, including the Shapur alley, were closed following strikes protesting the execution of four political prisoners on Wednesday, February 11, without any explanation. Following the execution of Pejman Fatehi, Mohsen Mazloom, Vafa Azarbar, and Mohammad Faramerzi, Iranian Kurdish political prisoners, many merchants in several western Iranian cities, including Sanandaj, Saqqez, Baneh, Mahabad, Boukan, Dehgolan, Divandereh, Marivan, Ravanser, and Kermanshah, went on strike on Tuesday, February 10. Zhila Mostajer emphasized that the freezing of merchants' bank accounts has a precedent dating back to last year, especially to prevent strikes related to the death of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini while in the custody of the Guidance Patrol. According to this board member of the Hengaw Human Rights Organization, many merchants' bank accounts were frozen during the nationwide protests of 1401 (2022) in the cities of Kermanshah, Sanandaj, and Saqqez. Zhila Mostajer stated that the security agencies of the Islamic Republic cited the participation of these merchants in the strikes as the reason for this action and conditioned the reopening of their bank accounts on signing a written commitment not to participate in strikes. This human rights activist noted that these written commitments have not prevented the formation of strikes. She cited the recent strike of merchants on the anniversary of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini's death in custody and their recent strike in protest against the execution of four Iranian Kurdish political prisoners as examples. The four executed political prisoners were arrested last year in Urmia and accused of 'espionage for Israel,' a charge they strongly denied. According to Zhila Mostajer, some striking merchants faced heavy financial penalties last year, and Iranian government agencies warned several merchants that their business licenses would be revoked if they participated in strikes. Zhila Mostajer previously described the rejection of the retrial related to the four recently executed Kurdish political prisoners as stemming from 'baseless excuses.'