Kurdish Groups Call for Strikes against Revolutionary Guards’ Suppression of Protests

A checkpoint for Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in the city of Javanrud, Kurdistan Province (Twitter)
A checkpoint for Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in the city of Javanrud, Kurdistan Province (Twitter)
TT
20

Kurdish Groups Call for Strikes against Revolutionary Guards’ Suppression of Protests

A checkpoint for Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in the city of Javanrud, Kurdistan Province (Twitter)
A checkpoint for Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in the city of Javanrud, Kurdistan Province (Twitter)

Kurdish parties opposed to the Iranian regime called on all Iranians to carry out strikes and protest marches on Thursday. They urged demonstration in response to the Revolutionary Guards’ oppression of protests in Kurdistan and in several other areas.

For the tenth week since the young Kurdish woman, Mahsa Amini, died in the custody of the Iranian morality police, the Revolutionary Guards have been suppressing widespread protests in Iran.

Kurdish groups called on political organizations, civilian activists, and Iranian citizens to strike and protest in support of Iranian Kurdistan and unity among Iranians.

“Several days ago, the regime started a bloodbath with all its might in Kurdistan and committed a general massacre,” the Kurdish Parties’ Coordinating Committee said in a statement.

The number of people killed by security forces during the protest movement since mid-September has risen to 437. This figure, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), has included 61 minors.

HARANA also pointed to Iranian authorities arresting 18,055 individuals during the unrest.

As protests continue in various forms, senior officials in Iran have defended the crackdown to quell the demonstrations.

“People expect us to have a firm confrontation,” said Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.

Member of Parliament and general of the Revolutionary Guards Muhammad Ismail Kothari had also approved sending ground forces to Kurdish cities to confront “separatists.”

Brigadier-General and Commander of the Revolutionary Guard Ground Forces Mohammad Pakpour called on the people of the Iraqi Kurdistan region to evacuate the centers and headquarters of what he labeled as “terrorists,” in a hint at Iranian Kurdish groups.

In a press conference, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said that “76 terrorist centers that are opposed to the revolution are active in the Kurdistan region.”

“These groups have allowed US and Israeli weapons to the country,” he added.

“As long as there is a threat from the neighborhood against us, our armed forces will continue their actions to ensure the maximum national security of the country,” affirmed the top diplomat.



New Zealand MP Who Called Opponents Spineless over Gaza Is Ejected from Parliament a 2nd Time 

In this image made from video, New Zealand lawmaker Chlöe Swarbrick talks to the media after she was thrown out of Parliament, in Wellington, New Zealand, Tuesday, Aug.3, 2025 (Chino Barrett-Lovie/Stuff via AP)
In this image made from video, New Zealand lawmaker Chlöe Swarbrick talks to the media after she was thrown out of Parliament, in Wellington, New Zealand, Tuesday, Aug.3, 2025 (Chino Barrett-Lovie/Stuff via AP)
TT
20

New Zealand MP Who Called Opponents Spineless over Gaza Is Ejected from Parliament a 2nd Time 

In this image made from video, New Zealand lawmaker Chlöe Swarbrick talks to the media after she was thrown out of Parliament, in Wellington, New Zealand, Tuesday, Aug.3, 2025 (Chino Barrett-Lovie/Stuff via AP)
In this image made from video, New Zealand lawmaker Chlöe Swarbrick talks to the media after she was thrown out of Parliament, in Wellington, New Zealand, Tuesday, Aug.3, 2025 (Chino Barrett-Lovie/Stuff via AP)

A New Zealand lawmaker who was thrown out of Parliament for calling her opponents spineless during a fiery debate about a Palestinian state was ejected again on Wednesday when she refused to apologize for the remark.

Chlöe Swarbrick, co-leader of the left-leaning Green Party and part of the opposition bloc, was ordered to leave parliament on Tuesday over a speech in which she called for government lawmakers “with a spine” to endorse her proposal for New Zealand to impose sanctions on Israel over the war in Gaza.

She was hit with a three-day ban — lengthy by New Zealand parliamentary standards — but returned the next day only to be ejected a second time.

Her censure came amid fraught scenes in Parliament in Wellington on Tuesday as opponents rebuked the government for not moving to recognize an independent Palestinian state, days after neighboring Australia pledged to do so. Countries including France, Britain and Canada are also expected to recognize a state of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September.

“We are one of the very few countries in the world who so far refuse to acknowledge the absolute bare minimum,” Swarbrick said.

The Green party lawmaker was abruptly ejected from the debating chamber when she urged government politicians to join her in a proposal to sanction Israel, which currently wouldn’t have enough votes to pass into law.

“If we can find six of 68 government MPs with a spine, we can stand on the right side of history,” Swarbrick said, referring to other Members of Parliament.

“That is completely unacceptable to make that statement,” Speaker Gerry Brownlee interrupted. “Withdraw it and apologize.”

The Green politician refused. Brownlee told her to leave the debating chamber for the rest of the week.

“Happily,” Swarbrick said.

The standoff resumed when Swarbrick took her seat again on Wednesday despite the ban and Brownlee asked again if she would apologize. Swarbrick declined and was ejected once more, yelling “free Palestine” as she went.

Brownlee took the serious step, rare in New Zealand’s Parliament, of taking a vote to “name” Swarbrick for her misconduct, a ruling that means a legislator is formally suspended with their pay docked. The vote passed, with all government lawmakers endorsing it.

Opposition lawmakers claim double standards

The measure provoked fresh debate in Parliament about punishments for unruly behavior. Government lawmakers voted in June to enact unprecedented lengthy bans of opposition Māori Party lawmakers who performed a haka chant to protest a controversial vote.

On Wednesday, opposition politicians decried Swarbrick’s penalty as unusually severe, with lawmaker Willie Jackson highlighting his own ban of just 30 minutes for calling one of his colleagues a liar, before he was allowed to resume his seat without an apology.

In another recent example, a government politician used an eye-watering expletive without censure, supporters of Swarbrick said.

Several others had escaped punishment in recent years when using the word “spineless” about their opponents. Opposition leader Chris Hipkins said it was unprecedented for a lawmaker to be ejected from Parliament for a second day over the same offense.

Brownlee, however, said he had drawn a line when Swarbrick directed a personal insult at all 68 government lawmakers, including him.

“We have so many threats and other stuff being directed at Members of Parliament,” he said. “If we don’t change the behavior in here, nothing will change outside.”

Meanwhile, the government continues to mull recognition of an independent Palestinian state. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon Wednesday made his most strident rebuke yet of Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the Israel leader “has lost the plot” on the “human catastrophe” in Gaza.

“I think Netanyahu has gone way too far,” Luxon told reporters. “He is not listening to the international community and that is unacceptable.”

While senior New Zealand officials, including Luxon, have said recognition of Palestine from their government was “a matter of not if, but when,” his Cabinet has yet to endorse a change of position. A decision will be made in September after further consideration, Luxon said Monday.