Activists: Strikes in Kurdish areas of Iran

Traders closed their stores on Thursday in the cities of Saghes, Urmia, Mahabad and Sanandaj, among others, as reported by the Norway-based human rights organization Hengaw. On Wednesday, activists had called for a general strike in solidarity with the protests.

The US-based human rights network HRANA also reported on strikes in the Kurdish cities of Sanandaj and Mariwan. The activists distributed videos showing many closed stores on main roads. Since the outbreak of the protests in Iran almost two weeks ago, the state has used violence against the uprisings, particularly in the rural regions in the west of the country.

At least 38 people have died in clashes between demonstrators and security forces, as HRANA reported. Four security forces were among them. More than 2,200 people have been arrested. On Wednesday, the activist network recorded protests in 37 cities and 24 of the 31 provinces.