Following a call in social networks for a nationwide strike in protest to the poor economic situation and inflation, a large part of the markets in several cities (including Sanandaj, Kermanshah, Ilam, Baneh, Saqqez, etc) had closed their shops.

Different sources of Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) have confirming the strike in various cities of Kurdistan while stated that the businessmen and marketers have been threatened by the Office of Places in these cities to stop the strike. Moreover, reports indicate that the Office of Public Relations (of Kurdistan Chamber of Commerce) has sent messages to a number of marketers to immediately open their shops.

According to reports and videos received by KHRN, the strike in Sanandaj is wider than other cities and, as of today, most of the Sanandaj business and commercial complexes have continued to strike. In Dolatabad and Dizelabad districts of Kermanshah, businessmen, marketers and heavy vehicle mechanics participated in the strike and called for improvement of the economic situation and the increase in prices of the goods.

“A group of heavy vehicle mechanics protested peacefully against the signs banning the entry of heavy vehicles, after which we came to the protesters and began to process the request with explanations.”,Fazlullah Ranjbar, the governor of Kermanshah who referred to the Kermanshah diesel market in an attempt to persuade the marketers to end the strike, told IRNA while denying the strike by marketers.

The reports from the cities of Saqez, Baneh and Ilam also indicate that most of the shops in the main markets of these cities are closed. The blockade of the border crossing at the Kurdistan, the poor economic situation and inflation, high rate of unemployment and lower purchasing power have led to massive protests to the citizens.