Iranian Kurds extend strikes against Tehran’s border closures with Kurdistan Region

Merchants and shopkeepers across seven towns in Rojhilat began the strikes on April 15.

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – People in cities across Iranian Kurdistan (Rojhilat) continued to protest the government’s months-long closure of its northwestern border with the Kurdistan Region as strikes entered the 11th day.

Merchants and shopkeepers across seven towns in Rojhilat began the strikes on April 15. The areas included: Baneh, Javanrud, Mahabad, Marivan, Piranshahr, Saqqez, and Sardasht.

The Iranian government has continued a crackdown on Kurdish border couriers (Kulbar) and has been blocking paths they use to carry goods to and from Kurdistan since December 2017.

The deputy governor of Baneh, Nejad Shahidi, claimed Tehran closed its northwestern borders with the Kurdistan Region for “order” and “security” purposes.

The closures were done so in coordination with the Iraqi government to “bring order to border trade and preserve security in border areas,” Shahidi was quoted as saying by IRNA.

Footage posted and shared on social media show dozens of shops with their gates shut and large groups of people marching in protest of the current Iranian government’s policies.

There have been no reports of violent demonstrations, but merchants and shopkeepers say they will continue to protest for another 20 days if the Iranian government refuses to hear their demands.

Residents in Kurdish-populated cities rely on imported products and trade to make a living. The border closures have affected their businesses as there is now a lack of goods available to sell in stores.