Strike in Kurdish Cities of Iran in Response to the Execution of Four Kurdish Political Prisoners

One day after the execution of Pejman Fatehi, Mohsen Mazloom, Vafa Azarbar, and Mohammad Faramarzi; Kurdish political prisoners, a large number of tradespeople and shopkeepers in Kurdish cities of Iran went on strike. According to reports published by the Hengaw news agency, these strikes took place in the cities of Sanandaj, Saqqez, Baneh, Mahabad, Boukan, Dehgolan, Divandereh, Marivan, Ravansar, and Kermanshah, creating a security atmosphere in these cities. Images released show that after security forces refused to hand over the bodies of the executed individuals to their families, people gathered in front of the homes of these individuals to express their condolences. Yesterday, several Kurdish political parties had issued a call for a strike in response to these executions. Previously, a group of political prisoners held in Ghezal Hesar prison in Alborz province announced that from now on, they would hold a group hunger strike every Tuesday in protest against executions, titled "Black Tuesdays." The U.S. State Department on Monday, February 9, issued a statement regarding the execution of Pejman Fatehi, Mohammad Faramarzi, Vafa Azarbar, and Mohsen Mazloom, four Kurdish political prisoners, 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." Despite widespread international protests, Iranian news agencies reported on Monday, February 9, the execution of Pejman Fatehi, Mohammad Faramarzi, Vafa Azarbar, and Mohsen Mazloom in Ghezal Hesar prison in Karaj. These four were members of the Komala Party of Kurdistan who were arrested last year in Urmia and accused of "spying for Israel," an accusation that was strongly denied by the defendants themselves. Their lawyer also protested against the "unfair trial process" regarding these accusations. Many lawyers and human rights organizations have deemed these executions as instances of "state-sanctioned murder." From the early hours of the announcement of the execution of these defendants, various Iranian and international figures and organizations reacted. Additionally, the U.S. State Department condemned the execution of the four Kurdish political prisoners. Despite international warnings, the Islamic Republic executed four Kurdish political prisoners. The U.S. and the U.K. imposed sanctions on 11 individuals linked to the Islamic Republic for "transnational repression." Protests against the executions are being held under the title "Black Tuesdays," with ten political prisoners going on hunger strike. Amnesty International condemned the execution of the four Kurdish political prisoners "after a severely unfair secret trial."