The reactionary capitalist regime in Iran prevented the family of Zhina “Mahsa” Amini from holding a commemoration at her graveside in Saqqez on the second anniversary of her death. But thousands of small businesses and workers went on strike across the Kurdish region.
The young Kurdish woman died Sept. 16, 2022, after she was detained by the hated “morality” police during a visit to Tehran. The cops claimed she had violated the dress code, which requires women to cover up their hair. Her family says the cops beat her. After her death, protests rapidly spread across Iran, continuing for five months. Police and thugs from the government-funded Basij paramilitary group killed over 500 protesters. More than 22,000 were arrested, most released after short prison stints.
This year 14 leaders of the Kurdistan Teachers Union in Sanandaj were detained ahead of the protest, and Amini’s family was warned to not leave their house. Authorities released water from the Cheraghweis dam to flood much of the access to the Saqqez cemetery and stationed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps troops at its entrances to keep people out.
At the same time, thousands in the Kurdish region honored the Sept. 15 strike call. Videos from seven cities, including Piranshahr, Saqqez, Sanandaj and Kermanshah, showed deserted streets.
The “morality” police — which the regime pulled back during the protests in 2022 and ’23 — are now back on the streets trying to enforce the dress code. Nonetheless, more women are going out in public without the required hijab.
The protests after Amini’s death helped widen space for working people, women and oppressed nationalities to fight for their interests. This year’s anniversary took place amid an upturn in labor battles.
Political prisoners at the Ghezel Hesar Penitentiary in Karaj commemorated the death of Amini and others killed in the protests by reading poems, singing songs and demanding an end to the death penalty.