Six largest parties in Rojhilat have called for a general strike against the death penalty - East Kurdistan (Western Iran) is to be paralyzed today, Wednesday. The action is intended to increase the pressure on the Iranian regime to stop its state killing machine. The parties PAK, PJAK, PDK-I and the three Komala groups announced the strike on Monday in a joint call.

The Kurdish parties said: “Iran is in a crisis: poverty, unemployment and inflation are high, individual and political freedoms have been confiscated by the regime, and social injustice prevails. But instead of answering society's demands and removing grievances, the rulers in Tehran are generating more and more crises in order to subject the population to even more repression.”

This tactic also includes intensifying repression against political prisoners and escalating the use of the death penalty as a tool of repression. The Kurdish parties added: "The impending execution of social worker Pakhshan Azizi and activist Warisha Moradi is an alarming signal that requires immediate action to prevent this humanitarian tragedy. One of the effective measures is to organize a general strike throughout Kurdistan."

The joint call further explained that "The general strike, a symbol of civil resistance in Kurdistan, has always been a powerful tool to demonstrate the collective will of the people at critical moments in history. Today we are facing another historic moment in which unity and solidarity are crucial to prevent further atrocities and save the lives of people who are committed to the pursuit of freedom, justice and equality.”

The action could serve as a peaceful and civil response to the repressive policies of the Iranian government, according to the “Jin Jiyan Azadî” movement, which sent the world a first message of resistance and resilience. The general strike could also be aligned with solidarity with the political prisoners who are on hunger strike against executions every Tuesday in over 30 Iranian prisons."

The parties "call on all people in Kurdistan to join the general strike against the death penalty. By closing workplaces, markets and educational institutions, we can demonstrate the power of unity and solidarity against injustice and oppression. This action has the potential to save lives and prevent further suffering for families. Let us prove once again that Kurdistan will not remain silent in the face of such an inhumane government and will take a strong stance with unity and solidarity."