TEHRAN – After Iran decided to use the army to suppress the ongoing anti-government protests in the Kurdish areas of Iran, there was serious concern. The move to suppress with an iron fist comes as the protests that started after the death of Mahsa Amini (22), a Kurdish woman who was detained for not wearing the hijab properly, continue to rage in these areas.
Footage has emerged of a military convoy including tanks moving towards the western province of Sanandaj. The Norway-based human rights group alleged that warplanes and more troops had arrived. The Kurdish human rights organization Henkaw alleged that the police also fired at houses.
At the same time, the spread of the strike in the oil producing sectors has further disturbed the government. In the Iraqi border city of Abadan, as well as Kangan and Bushar, workers demonstrated against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei chanting slogans of ‘Let the dictator fall’. Last day, the employees of Asalueh went on strike. Fuel shortages began to occur in the southwestern regions. But the Iranian authorities have clarified that the workers’ strike is for salary increase.
Meanwhile, Iran has summoned the British ambassador to protest the UK sanctions against security chiefs. US President Joe Biden’s security adviser, Jake Sullivan, reminded Iran that the world is watching the violence against children and women. France has announced that it is moving to impose sanctions.
Iranian actress with support
Iranian actress Elnas Norouzi came out in support of the movement. Posting a video of herself undressing with the message ‘My body, my will’, Norouzi said that it is up to the woman to decide what to wear. Norouzi said that a few years ago, he was caught by the morality police in Tehran and taken to ‘re-education’. Nowrosi, who acted in the Hindi serial ‘Sacred Games’, is based in Germany.
English Summary: Iran’s crackdown on protests intensifies in Kurdish region