Hengaw Organization Reports Government Response to Guild Strikes; Bank Accounts of Merchants in Boukan Frozen

The human rights organization "Hengaw" reported that security institutions in Iran have systematically pressured various guilds in different cities over the past two weeks in a "retaliatory" action due to their participation in a protest strike against the execution of four Kurdish political prisoners. Hengaw stated that the freezing of bank accounts was carried out under the orders of the head of the Industry, Mine and Trade Department of Boukan. The organization cited evidence showing that various banks, including Refah Bank and Mellat Bank in Boukan, cut off merchants' access to their bank accounts following the directive from the "Industry, Mine and Trade" department. The report emphasized that similar actions occurred in other cities, including Saqqez and Mahabad. This crackdown on guilds followed a strike on the 10th of Bahman, one day after the execution of Pejman Fatehi, Mohsen Mazloom, Vafa Azarbar, and Mohammad Faramerzi; Kurdish political prisoners, during which many guilds and merchants in Kurdish cities of Iran went on strike. At that time, Hengaw reported that these strikes took place in the cities of Sanandaj, Saqqez, Baneh, Mahabad, Boukan, Dehgolan, Divandereh, Marivan, Ravansar, and Kermanshah, leading to a heightened security atmosphere in these areas. The four executed prisoners were members of the Kurdistan Komala Party who were arrested last year in Urmia and accused of "spying for Israel," an allegation strongly denied by the accused. Their lawyer also protested the "unfair trial process" regarding these accusations. The executions occurred despite calls from many human rights activists and international human rights organizations to halt the execution of these individuals. The execution of these Kurdish prisoners provoked widespread reactions. The U.S. State Department, on the 9th of Bahman, issued a statement in response to the executions of political prisoners by the Islamic Republic, stating, "We are aware of reports regarding the execution of these four men in Iran, which followed trials that international human rights activists consider to be fabricated." Many lawyers and human rights organizations have deemed these executions as instances of "governmental murder." Images of merchants and shopkeepers striking in Divandereh, Boukan, Saqqez, and Mahabad in protest against the execution of the four Kurdish political prisoners were also shared. The second day of the strike in the market of Semiram protested the issuance of a death sentence for two young protesters. Strikes continue in several cities in Iran, with people visiting the families of the executed.