Reports Indicate Strike of Tradespeople in Kurdish Cities on the Anniversary of Mahsa Amini's Death

Images and videos shared on social media show that tradespeople and shopkeepers in Kurdish cities have gone on strike on the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death while in custody of the morality police. According to reports, on Sunday, September 25, tradespeople in the cities of Sanandaj, Saqqez, Divandareh, Mahabad, and Bukan are participating in the strike. These strikes are taking place despite threats and the heightened security atmosphere in Kurdish cities in recent days. Access routes to the Aichi cemetery have been blocked; helicopters are flying over Saqqez. Local sources report that security forces have blocked communication routes to the Aichi cemetery in Saqqez and deployed repressive forces throughout the city. The human rights website Hengaw reported that military helicopters are patrolling over the city, with five helicopters observed in the area. Mahsa Amini's mother addressed the agents responsible for her daughter's death in an Instagram story, stating, "They will be eternally disgraced in history." Mojgan Eftekhari, reflecting on the events of two years ago, emphasized that Mahsa fell victim to "those who could not bear the beauty of their homeland's daughter" during her trip to the capital. In her story, Mahsa's mother also mentioned the young people killed during the nationwide protests of 2022, stating, "I have entrusted their names and memories to eternity with my radiant Mahsa." Reports indicate that Mahsa Amini's family was supposed to hold a memorial for their daughter at the Aichi cemetery for the first time today. Meanwhile, there are reports of security agencies attempting to prevent the Amini family from attending the cemetery. Last year, security forces prevented the family from holding a memorial by briefly detaining Mahsa's father, Amjad Amini. Previously, Mahsa's father had announced that if the government did not interfere and "considering the calls and requests from the people," the memorial would be held on Sunday, September 25. In this context, informed sources told the Persian section of Voice of America about the deployment of a large number of government agents in Saqqez and severe internet disruptions in several cities in Iran, including Saqqez and Sanandaj, ahead of the second anniversary of Mahsa (Jina) Amini's death in the custody of the morality police. The strike of shopkeepers in Mahabad on the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death is a reflection of the ongoing wave of arrests in Kurdish cities leading up to this anniversary. A group of activists and women's rights defenders emphasized the "continuation of the struggle until the victory of the Woman, Life, Freedom movement." There is a strong emphasis on the "continuation of protests" on the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death; the Iranian Writers' Association stated that any change is only possible through the power of the people.