Parties and political movements from Rojhilat (Eastern Kurdistan/Western Iran) are calling for a general strike in Kurdistan on the first anniversary of the "Jin Jiyan Azadî" (Woman, Life, Freedom) resistance on 16 September.

The joint appeal released on Wednesday is undersigned by the HDKÎ (Democratic Movement of Kurdistan-Iran), Komele (Communist Party of Iran), PJAK (Party for a Free Life in Kurdistan), Sazimanî Xebat (Organization of Iranian Kurdistan Struggle),PAK (Freedom Party of Kurdistan) and Komeleya Zehmetkêşên Kurdistanê (Community of Labourers of Kurdistan).

The appeal defines the rebellion that broke out a year ago as the largest and longest-lasting uprising in the history of the Islamic Republic. The "Jin, Jiyan, Azadî" revolution was triggered by the state femicide of Jina Mahsa Amini. The 22-year-old Kurdish woman from Seqiz died in a hospital in Tehran on 16 September 2022. She had previously been detained by the so-called morality police and ill-treated at a police station. The women-led uprisings that spread from Rojhilat to the whole of Iran have created an irreversible revolution in people's minds.

In the appeal to "the fighting people of Kurdistan", the Kurdish organisations and parties say: "On 25 Shahrivar 1401 [according to the Iranian calendar], Jina Amini, a young Kurdish woman from Seqiz, died in Tehran as a result of an attack by the regime's oppressive forces. The name Jina, as it appeared on her gravestone, became the symbol of a widespread popular uprising that began in Kurdistan with the slogan 'Woman, Life, Freedom' and soon spread to all cities and regions of Iran and even to other countries. The Jina Revolution is the most popular and longest protest and uprising to challenge the rule of the Islamic Republic and take steps to overthrow this repressive regime. In the past year and in the course of this revolution, the freedom-loving movement of the Iranian people in general and the Kurdish people in particular experienced a new and popular phase against the ruling regime in Iran and took decisive steps that are unstoppable and irreversible. The significant role of women in this revolution has taken our society a big step forward and made the horizon of victory brighter. At the peak of their lives, young people make a rare sacrifice on the way to a free and desirable life. On the anniversary of the Jina Revolution, it is appropriate to remember the martyrs of this new revolution, show our support to the political prisoners and keep the political movement alive."

The parties made the following decisions:

1- Civil society activists and independent organizations should support and take an active part in the commemorations and activities on the anniversary of the ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadî’ revolution.

2- Declaration of 16 September 2023 as the day of general strike in the whole of Kurdistan, when all shops, markets, businesses and administrative centres should remain closed. The people of Kurdistan will visit the graves of the brave martyrs of the revolution and organise commemoration ceremonies.

3- All libertarian peoples in Iran should support the strike of the Kurdistan people across the country and show their support for the ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadî’ revolution.

4- All circles, activists and parties abroad should support the strike on the anniversary of the revolution, organise mass demonstrations and marches and draw the attention of the world to the ‘Jina revolution’.

5- Each party of the political organizations at this meeting express their participation and support in the commemoration ceremonies to be held at the graves of the brave martyrs on 16 September 2023.