Security forces arrested at least six shopkeepers in Sanandaj, Kurdistan Province, for taking part in a general strike to protest against the death sentences handed down to Kurdish political prisoners.
The strike, which took place on 22 January following a call by Kurdish political parties for a general strike to protest against the death sentences of Pakhshan Azizi, Verisheh (Wirishe) Moradi and other political prisoners, saw widespread closures in several cities in Kurdistan.
The arrests in Sanandaj involved plainclothes officers who beat and arrested six people, identified as Mohammad Seyf-Panahi, Sina Rezaei, Amjad Geryakhiz, Naeim Dousti, Omid Mohammadi and Mohammad Atlasi.
In the days leading up to the strike, security officials reportedly summoned representatives of shopkeepers and business owners in various cities and warned them not to participate. Threats included sealing their shops and taking legal action against them.
Additionally, images circulated online show that during the strike in Saqqez and Divandarreh, security forces marked shops and sealed a significant number of businesses in these cities.
The call for a general strike by Kurdish political parties led to widespread market closures and peaceful civil protests in several cities.