‚Despite this campaign of mass arrests, the number of protesters has increased since Tuesday,‘ the journalist reported. ‚Kurdish citizens in Mahabad, Mariwan and Sanandaj raised anti-regime banners, condemning the oppressive practices by the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and calling for the release of all political prisoners,‘ Sardashti said. Dewran Rida, a Kurdish rights activist, told ARA News: ‚The [protests’] main goal was to break the silence and express our outrage about the arbitrary arrests and mass executions in Iran.‘ Iranian security forces raided a number of houses in the city of Mahabad and its countryside last Tuesday, arresting dozens of Kurdish activists. The arrests may have set off the protests, which immediately followed. ‚Iranian forces stormed houses in Mahabad city and the village of Qere Gul and arrested dozens of civilian activists. This has raised the people’s outrage,‘ Kurdish political activist Halmand Mihemendi told ARA News. ‚We took to the street to express our condemnation to such suppressive practices.‘ According to Mihemendi, who has previously been arrested by Iranian paramilitary forces, most of the arrestees are being tortured regardless of the charge. ‚And a majority of those detained by the authorities are being executed. This has been taking place in Iran on a daily basis,‘ he added.“
(Sozbin Cheleng/Raman Yousef: „Kurdish protests continue in Iran despite government crackdown“)
