The protests in Iran following the murder of the Kurdish woman Jina Amini have now been going on for 22 days. On 8 October, during the protests in Rojhilat (Eastern Kurdistan), regime forces attacked the population in Sine (Sanandaj) and shot dead four Kurds. In total, an unknown number of participants have been killed by security forces since the protests began. According to conservative counts, at least 185 people, 19 of them minors, have been killed by security forces since the protests began. Nevertheless, there was a new massive wave of protests at the weekend following calls for strikes.

General strike in Iran and Rojhilat

Despite the regime's efforts to violently suppress the protests, the resistance spread to 175 cities across Iran and Rojhilat. 8 October was proclaimed the Day of Resistance. More than 400 writers in Iran and abroad, as well as many initiatives and trade unions, called for a general strike. This further intensified a strike that had previously been carried out mainly in Rojhilat over the weekend. People took to the streets in many cities across Iran. According to the images on social media, shopkeepers closed their shops in many cities, especially in cities like Sine, Mahabad, Saqiz, Diwandere, Bokan and Ciwanro in Rojhilat.

In Sine, among others, people took to the streets. Iranian security forces attacked those gathering under the slogan "Jin Jiyan Azadî" [Woman Life Freedom]. Already at the beginning of the protests, a demonstrator named Şerif Abad was shot dead by the police. The protesters reacted with slogans such as "Death to the dictator".

Protests all over Iran: "Whether Shah or Mullah, Death to the Oppressors"

Protests took place across Iran, especially in Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan, Shiraz and Keraj. Protests began again at Al-Zahra University, Tehran Azadi University, International Qazwan University and Tehran Sharif Technical University, where women are students. During a visit to Iran's Zehra University, Iranian President Reisi was greeted with slogans of "Death to the Mullahs" and "Whether Shah or Mullah, Death to the Oppressors". Such slogans can be punished by death in Iran.

Further protests in Tehran

Demonstrations in Tehran continued late into the night on Saturday. In the conservative Tehran district of Pars, demonstrators set fire to rubbish containers, blocked the streets and chanted slogans. Footage from the Nazi Abad neighbourhood also showed large protests. There were also large actions with burning barricades in Azeri Street.

Protests took place outside the metro station on Sharia Street in Tehran, as they do almost every day. During the demonstrations on Abuzer Boulevard, regime banners were burned, barricades erected and fires lit. Protests also continued into the night in other cities in Iran.

State television hacked

As part of the protests, Iranian state television was hacked on Saturday. During the 9pm news broadcast, the television was hijacked by a group called "Adalet-i Ali" and during the broadcast of religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's speech, photos of Jina Amini and three women who were murdered during the protests were projected on the screen. At the same time, an image of the regime leader was visible with crosshairs. The action, which lasted a few seconds, included a call to "Join us and stand up" and an attack on the regime with the slogan "The blood of our youth drips from your claws". Afterwards, the slogan "Jin Jiyan Azadî" could be seen.

Murder by regime disguised as "suicide”

State channels broadcast the news that 16-year-old Sarina Esmailzadeh, who was beaten to death by security forces in Gohardasht on 23 September, committed "suicide". She was said to have thrown herself from a roof. Amnesty International issued a statement confirming that Sarina had been bludgeoned to death. Her family was put under massive pressure not to comment.

A few days earlier, 17-year-old Nika Shakarami had disappeared in Tehran on 20 September. When her body was found with traces of massive violence, the regime claimed she had thrown herself off a roof. Nika's mother said the regime had murdered her daughter. She stated that the state had forced her to say that her daughter had committed suicide.

Singer Hossein Safamanesh arrested

Many arrests are taking place in Rojhilat. As the human rights organisation Hengaw reports, the well-known singer Hossein Safamanesh from Kirmaşan was among those arrested. The artist Safamanesh, who was in Tehran for a concert, announced on his Instagram account that he had cancelled his concert in South Kurdistan due to the protests for Jina Amini. "I don't consider myself an artist, but I know that an artist's job is to stand by his people in historical processes and not against them. I, Hossein Safamanesh, declare: The people are in the street, my stage will be the street, not a salon in Tehran. I am with you, my people," Safamensh said. According to the human rights organisation Hengaw, Safamanesh was summoned and arrested by the Iranian secret service in Tehran on 6 October.

Kurdish women's activist Bahar Aslani arrested

The human rights organisation Hengaw further announced that six Kurdish teachers were arrested in Sarvabad, Dehgulan, Bokan, Sine and Oshanviyeh in Rojhilat for protesting in support of Jina Amini. On 8 October, Reza Jodaki, a music student at Kurdistan University from Hormabad (Loristan), who wanted to attend the funeral of Nika Shakarami, was also arrested. In addition, it was announced that Kurdish activist and photographer Bahar Aslani was arrested by regime forces in Tehran on 26 September. As Hengaw reports, Bahar Aslani has severe health problems.

Four Kurds shot dead during protests in Sine

The human rights organisation Hengaw published another report on Sunday about the protests in Rojhilat. According to the report, at least four Kurds were killed by regime forces during the protests in Sine on 8 October. In addition, 130 people were injured. Slogans and police gunfire echoed through the streets of Sine on Monday night as well.

Self-defence: Regime policeman killed

In Jina Mahsa Amini's native town of Saqiz, people resorted to self-defence after fierce police attacks. In the process, a police officer was killed, and a prosecutor was injured. Protests and fierce clashes were also reported in Bokan, Mahabad, Sine, Saqiz, Kamiyaran and Javanrud in Rojhilat on Sunday.