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.
