Kurdistan on strike as shops and markets close across 39 cities

Hengaw – Thursday, January 8, 2026 

The call for a general strike in Kurdistan  was widely observed  on Thursday, with broad participation reported across 39 cities. At the same time, several political prisoners launched hunger strikes in solidarity with the action. 

According to information received by the  Hengaw Organization for Human Rights,  cities across Kermanshah Province took part in the Kurdistan-wide strike, including  Sarpol-e Zahab,  Ravansar, Kermanshah (Kermashan), Paveh, Shabad  (Eslamabad-e Gharb), Qasr-e Shirin,  Kuzaran, Gilan-e Gharb, Salas-e Babajani,  Sahneh, Sonqor,  Kerend-e Gharb, and  Javanrud. 

On the same day, widespread participation was also reported across Kurdistan  (Sanandaj) Province, including  Sanandaj (Sine),  Divandarreh, Saqqez, Marivan, Baneh, Bijar,  Kamyaran, Qorveh, Dehgolan (Dewlan), and  Sarvabad  (Sewlawah). 

Additionally, 15 other cities joined the strike, including Urmia, Dizaj  (Deza u  Margawr), Mahabad,  Bukan, Sardasht,  Piranshahr, Oshnavieh, Takab, Rabat, Qatur, Khoy, as well as Ilam, Lumar,  Abdanan,  Dehloran, and  Darreh Shahr. 

According to Hengaw  sources, government institutions  attempted  to counter the strike through intimidation and misinformation. These actions included summoning prominent shopkeepers and civil activists, posting Islamic Republic of Iran flags and pro-government ideological slogans on their social media accounts without consent, creating fake accounts in their names, and publishing content contrary to their views as part of a coordinated character-assassination campaign. 

At the same time, several Kurdish political prisoners launched hunger strikes at Sanandaj Central Prison in solidarity with the general strike. Those  participating  include Srveh  Pourmohammadi, Mahmoud Sadeghi, Rafiq Salimi, Nader Bahmani, Youssef Ahmadi, Idris  Manbari, Mohammad Rahimi, Faryad Ghaderi, Fardin  Moloudi, Varisheh  Moradi, Zeinab Jalalian, Sakineh Parvaneh, and  Matlab  Ahmadian, along with Parisa Kamali, a political prisoner from Yazd. 

The general strike was called on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, by seven Kurdish political parties and civil organizations, in support of residents of Ilam, Kermanshah (Kermashan), and Lorestan, and in solidarity with the ongoing protests. The  Hengaw  Organization for Human Rights also formally expressed its support for civic action through a public statement.