Security Atmosphere in Kurdish Cities Ahead of the Second Anniversary of Mahsa Amini's Death; Summoning of 14 Teachers and Arrest of a Grieving Mother

Reports indicate an increase in security measures in Kurdish cities as the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death approaches. Additionally, 14 members of the teachers' union in Kurdistan were summoned, and a member of a grieving family was arrested, while a disabled citizen in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province had a prison sentence executed. The human rights organization 'Hengaw' reported on Thursday, September 22, that 'the atmosphere in Kurdish cities, including Saqez, the birthplace of Zhina Amini, has become security-oriented.' This organization added, based on images it obtained, that 'in the lead-up to the second anniversary of Zhina Amini's state-sanctioned murder, a large number of government repressive forces have entered the city of Saqez from the Boukan road.' Meanwhile, according to human rights sources, Mina Soltani, the grieving mother of Shahrivar Mohammadi, a protester who lost his life during the nationwide 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests in Boukan, was arrested. The Kurdistan Human Rights Network announced that government agents stormed the home of Shahrivar Mohammadi's grieving mother on Wednesday evening, September 21, and arrested her without presenting a judicial order. Shahrivar Mohammadi, a protester residing in Boukan, died on November 18, 2022, after being shot by government agents. In this context, Gohar Eshghi, the mother of Sattar Beheshti, a worker and blogger who was killed in the Islamic Republic's prison, stated in a video message on Thursday: 'I recently learned that the black regime has begun a new wave of threats and intimidation against grieving and grieving families.' She added: 'The second anniversary of my daughter Zhina's state-sanctioned murder has unsettled and panicked them. This plague regime fears the people. That is why it tries to prevent mourning and protests by the people, especially grieving families, with hasty violent actions.' On the other hand, Omid Izadi Sadegh Abadi, a disabled citizen residing in the city of Saman in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, was transferred to prison in Shahr-e Kord to serve a 4-year sentence. According to the Hengaw human rights organization, this 36-year-old citizen suffering from MS was arrested on September 5 after visiting the court to pay a fine and was transferred to Ward 4 of Shahr-e Kord prison. The 101st branch of the Criminal Court 2 in Saman had sentenced Omid Izadi Sadegh Abadi to 4 years in prison and a 15 million toman fine for 'propaganda against the regime' and 'spreading falsehoods with the intent to disturb public opinion' on May 1 of this year. Mr. Izadi Sadegh Abadi suffers from neurological, motor, and speech disorders due to his MS and is unable to walk independently. Meanwhile, the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers' Trade Unions reported that 14 union activists and members of the Kurdistan Teachers' Association have been summoned to the public and revolutionary prosecutor's office in Sanandaj and other security agencies in the city on charges of 'conspiracy against national security,' 'propaganda against the Islamic Republic,' and 'disturbing public order.' This national teachers' organization in Iran noted that in recent months, hundreds of cases with various charges have been opened against teachers' union activists in administrative violation committees of the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with local managers and security guards of this department. The wave of arrests has intensified ahead of the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death, and the Islamic Republic's agents have increased pressure on grieving families. The death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old from Saqez, while in the custody of the morality police in Tehran on September 16, 2022, led to one of the most unprecedented nationwide protests against the Islamic Republic. The request of Mohammad Hassan Torkman’s mother, from grieving families: 'Let us expand power, unity, and solidarity.' Amnesty International on the second anniversary of the nationwide protests: 'Impunity for perpetrators of international crimes continues in the Islamic Republic.' The Kerman Court of Appeals upheld the prison sentence of a Baha'i citizen. The Kerman Court of Appeals confirmed the one-year prison sentence of Motahareh Ghonei, a suspended medical student. The 'Revolution' Court sentenced Ismail Gerami to one year in prison for 'participating in retirees' gatherings.'