Kurdish Traders Face Arrests and Sealed Shops After Anniversary Strike
Security forces in Kurdistan detained dozens of shopkeepers and sealed businesses following the September 16 strike.
Key points
- Dozens of Kurdish shopkeepers were detained or forced to sign pledges against future strikes following the September 16 action.
- Security forces in Kamyaran and Sanandaj used threats, beatings, and judicial orders to seal businesses and arrest traders.
- State-affiliated channels warned traders on September 15 that participation in the strike would lead to six-month shop closures.
Security agencies in the Kurdistan region have detained dozens of Kurdish shopkeepers and market traders for participating in a general strike on 16 September. The action marked the fourth anniversary of the death of Jina Amini and the subsequent 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement, which has continued to challenge state authority in the province.
According to the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN), the response from state security forces was swift and punitive. Investigators from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Ministry of Intelligence moved to summon, arrest, and judicially seal the businesses of those who closed their shops in solidarity with the protest.
Coercive Tactics in Kamyaran Markets
In the town of Kamyaran, the pressure on local traders began immediately after the strike. A source told KHRN that IRGC Intelligence officers telephoned several shopkeepers on the evening of the 16th, demanding they report to their local office within hours or face the closure of their businesses. Several traders complied late that night, fearing the loss of their livelihoods.
Once at the office, the atmosphere turned hostile. Officers threatened the group with judicial cases, and an elderly shopkeeper who objected was reportedly beaten and insulted in front of the others. The group was then compelled to sign written pledges promising not to participate in similar strikes in the future. Despite these threats, the crackdown intensified, with Ministry of Intelligence forces violently arresting at least six shopkeepers.
Detention and Unknown Whereabouts
The human rights network reports that two of the detained traders in Kamyaran were released from prison on 19 September. However, four others remain in detention, and their families have been unable to obtain information regarding their whereabouts or physical condition. This lack of transparency is a common feature of such detentions, leaving families in a state of prolonged uncertainty.
Preemptive Threats and Judicial Seals
The crackdown was not limited to Kamyaran. In Sanandaj, Ministry of Intelligence forces arrested at least four market traders for their participation in the strike. In both Sanandaj and Saqqez, dozens of shops were sealed under judicial orders following the events of the 16th. Other shopkeepers in these cities were summoned to police departments, where they faced similar threats and were forced to sign pledges against future political participation.
The state made its intentions clear before the strike occurred. On 15 September, websites and Telegram channels affiliated with security agencies published a notice warning shopkeepers and trade associations. The message stated that any cooperation with what it termed 'counter-revolutionary elements' would result in shops being sealed for six months and judicial action against the owners.
