Protest outside jail in restive Kurdish town continues

Iran Focus:

Tehran, Iran, Aug. 08 – Relatives of those arrested in the Kurdish town of Saqqez, northwest Iran, during last week’s anti-government protests have continued their gathering and vigil outside the town’s central prison where they have demanded the immediate and unconditional release of their family members.

Last week, deadly clashes rocked Saqqez as agents of the SSF opened fire on demonstrators from military helicopters.

The relatives of the political prisoners who had gathered outside the prison since Saturday have spent two nights outside the prison, lighting candles as a symbolic gesture and protesting their children’s detention. They have said that they refuse to leave the site until their loved ones are freed.

There is a strong military presence in Saqqez and the town is currently under a de facto martial law. Many shops have been shut down and storeowners have refused to come to work as part of a general strike against the government’s use of force.

At least 13 people have been reported killed as a result of the government crackdown.

The clashes in Saqqez came in the wake of a series of protests that have swept Kurdish towns and cities in Iran for the past month. Hundreds of protesters have been injured or arrested by government troops in several towns.