The North-East Syrian women’s umbrella organization, Kongra Star, released a statement marking the first anniversary of the uprising in Iran and Rojhilat (East Kurdistan) following the killing of Kurdish woman Jina Mahsa Amini in police custody in Tehran on 16 September 2022.

The Kongra Star Assembly pointed out that the killing of Jina Amini kindled the anger of people and turned it into a demand for freedom.

The statement continued with the following appeal: “Support the resistance against the Iranian regime and enhance the struggle. Expressing our condolences to the families of the martyrs of the uprising, we celebrate the first anniversary of the revolt and reiterate our promise that 21st century will be the century of women. The ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadi’ uprising is the revolt of all of us. For this reason, we, women, should organize ourselves more powerfully until we achieve victory.”

Background

The state femicide of Jina Mahsa Amini triggered a revolution under the motto "Jin, Jiyan, Azadî" (Woman, Life, Freedom) across the country. The women-led uprisings that spread from Rojhilat to the whole of Iran have created an irreversible revolution in people's minds, resulting in the deaths of at least 500 people and injuries to thousands more. Despite the family’s complaint against those responsible for Amini’s death, no action has been taken so far.

On the anniversary of the killing of Jina Amini, demonstrations will be organized in many cities around the world on Saturday, 16 September 2023.

Parties and political movements from Rojhilat (Eastern Kurdistan/Western Iran) have called for a general strike in Kurdistan on the first anniversary of the "Jin Jiyan Azadî" resistance on 16 September.

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) released a joint appeal on 6 September calling for a general strike in the whole of Kurdistan on 16 September, when all shops, markets, businesses and administrative centres should remain closed. 

Defining the rebellion that broke out a year ago as the largest and longest-lasting uprising in the history of the Islamic Republic, the Kurdish organisations and parties called on "the fighting people of Kurdistan" to remember the martyrs of this new revolution, show their support to the political prisoners and keep the political movement alive.

The Party for a Free Life in Kurdistan (PJAK) and the Movement for Freedom and Democracy in Rojhilat (KODAR) also released a statement calling for strong participation in the general strike and underlining that the "Jin, Jiyan, Azadî" uprising is a cultural and mental revolution for the whole society in Iran.

“The 'Jin, Jiyan, Azadî' revolution is a cultural and mental revolution of the whole Iranian society. It is the duty of everyone to engage and fight against the dictatorship and the fascist Iranian system. The willingness to do so paves the way for freedom and democracy. The freedom of the Kurdish people is linked to the freedom of Rêber Apo [Abdullah Öcalan],” said the appeal by PJAK and KODAR.