Kurdish Businesses Protest Mahsa Amini Tomb Violations

Independent businesses in the Kurdish town of Saqqez initiated a coordinated shutdown on Tuesday, in response to modifications in the Aichi cemetery targeting the tomb of Mahsa Amini. Videos recorded on June 13 show a significant number of closed shops in Amini's hometown.

Reports of attempts to desecrate, destroy and remove Mahsa Amini’s tomb, as well as the tombs of others killed in recent nationwide protests, have surfaced in recent weeks. Amini’s tomb remains in the cemetery but the moficiations to the Aichi cemetery have put it out of reach to the public.

Prior to the strike, Saqqez shopkeepers issued a call urging the public to suspend work on Tuesday to protest the ongoing changes, particularly the removal of Amini's tomb.

🎥 بازاریان شهر سقز در اعتراض به خراب کردن و تغییر بە عمد در #آرامستان_آیچی دست به اعتصاب زدند. سه‌شنبه ۲۳ خرداد#اعتراضات_سراسری #اعتصابات_سراسری #سقز pic.twitter.com/5oUdUhEtmP

— ایران وایر (@iranwire) June 13, 2023

The strike also served as a unified response to mass arrests and harassment endured by several families in the area.

Last Friday, families from Dehgolan, Sanandaj, Divandareh, and other cities were detained during their visit to Saqqez and Bukan to pay respects at the graves of the victims of nationwide protests. The families visited Mahsa Amini’s grave, among others, to express support for her family.

Human rights activists in Kurdistan have confirmed that, in recent days, a number of children were arrested as part of the families and taken to undisclosed locations. 

🎥 ویدیوی ارسالی از شهروندخبرنگار ایران‌وایر؛ اعتصاب عمومی در سقز در واکنش به بازداشت خانواده‌های داغدار و دادخواه و اعمال تغییرات در #آرامستان_آیچی. سه‌شنبه ۲۳ خرداد#اعتراضات_سراسری #اعتصابات_سراسری #سقز pic.twitter.com/87PZhSbEf1

— ایران وایر (@iranwire) June 13, 2023

A relative of an executed Iranian protester, Majid Kazemi, blamed security agents for vandalizing his Majid’s grave on the eve of his birthday. On June 8 the relative, Mohammad Hashemi, posted a picture of the desecrated grave on social media, saying it was torched by officers at around midnight. 

Kazemi and two other protesters, Saleh Mirehashemi and Saeed Yaqoubi, were sentenced to death for the alleged killing of two members of the paramilitary Basij force and a law enforcement officer during protests in Isfahan in November.

Security forces have responded with deadly crackdowns to the months-long nationwide demonstrations sparked by the September 2022 death in police custody of Mahsa Amini.

More than 520 people were killed during demonstrations and over 20,000 others were unlawfully detained, activists say. 

Following biased trials, the judiciary has handed down stiff sentences, including the death penalty, to protesters.