ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – A coalition of Iranian Kurdish opposition groups on Wednesday expressed gratitude for the “success” of the general strike the group called for on the anniversary of the death of Zhina (Mahsa) Amini, saying the strike affirmed that Kurdish political forces and the Kurdish people are an “inseparable whole.”

On Sunday, the Alliance of Political Forces of Iranian Kurdistan, a coalition of six Kurdish opposition parties, called for a general strike on the anniversary of Amini’s death in the custody of Iran’s morality police, after she was detained over an alleged hijab violation.

Kurdish majority cities in western Iran (Rojhelat) largely heeded the call, with shopkeepers and merchants closing their shops in at least 11 cities, according to information obtained by the Oslo-based Hengaw Human Rights Organization.

Videos also circulated on social media depicting several cities including Saqqez, Sanandaj (Sina), Mahabad, Bukan, and more, with shops closed up and limited commercial activity.

In a statement, the alliance asserted that the general strike was “decisive and successful,” extending gratitude to the residents of Rojhelat for heeding the call.

“The success of this civil movement is a sign of the high level of social responsibility, political awareness, national unity, and the rejection of the policies of repression, discrimination, and execution by the people of Kurdistan,” the statement said.

It further added that the “success” of the stance “confirms the truth that the political parties and the society of Kurdistan are an inseparable whole.”

In Saqqez, Amini’s hometown, the general strike was carried out “broadly and completely,” despite strict security measures, with only bakeries and pharmacies left operating, according to Hengaw.

Sanandaj, Divandarreh, Mahabad, Bukan, and Oshnavieh (Shno) saw an “extensive” 50 to 70 percent participation rate, according to the rights group’s estimates, while the cities of Qorveh, Bijar, Marivan, Kamyaran, and Piranshahr witnessed 30 to 40 percent participation.

The strike took place amid heavy security measures, with at least 10 Kurds arrested in connection with the move over the past three days, while security forces were heavily deployed in Kurdish-majority cities armed with “semi-heavy weapons,” Hengaw asserted.

“The strong will of the people of Kurdistan and the responsible stance of shopkeepers and merchants brought about the failure of the authorities,” the coalition said.

Amini, a young Kurdish woman, died in September 2022 in police custody of Iran’s so-called morality police over her alleged lax hijab, sparking one of Iran’s largest nationwide uprisings, known as the Jin Jiyan Azadi (Women Life Freedom) movement.

Iranian authorities heavily cracked down on the demonstrations, with over 500 people killed and tens of thousands of others arrested during the nationwide movement.

Rojhelat holds significant political and geographic sensitivity, long marked by resistance to Tehran’s policies as residents face decades of discrimination, heavy security crackdowns, economic underdevelopment, and limited job opportunities.

Iran’s proposed “Law on Protecting the Family through the Promotion of the Culture of Chastity and Hijab” was introduced in response to the social unrest that swept the country in 2022. The bill was passed by the parliament in 2023 and introduced tougher penalties for women who violate the country’s strict dress code.

Despite being passed by parliament, the law has not been enforced. President Masoud Pezeshkian has not ratified the legislation, effectively preventing its implementation amid continued debate over Iran’s mandatory hijab rules.