ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Security forces have been deployed to the Iranian Kurdish city of Baneh after three weeks of strike action by shop owners protesting closure of unofficial border crossings.
Since Friday, Baneh has been under high-security alert “due to the presence of numerous anti-riot forces,” the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) reported on Sunday.
With many security forces in the streets, people are staying at home, the France-based rights monitor stated, adding that “the internet connection in Baneh has been disbanded by the Provincial Council the past three days to stop the coverage of the strike.”
Dozens of strikers have reportedly been arrested, but KHRN is not able to confirm or obtain details because of the internet disruption.
Iranian authorities frequently shut down communication platforms during protests in the country. Most recently, it has banned popular messaging app Telegram.
Shopkeepers in Baneh began their strike on April 15 – closing their doors to protest rising costs due to prolonged closure of unofficial border crossings. With the unofficial routes closed, kolbars – cross-border porters – have to use the official borders where they are hit with high customs tariffs.
Strikers have stretched empty tablecloths along the streets of Baneh, representing their empty tables and inability to feed their families.
The Kurdish provinces of Iran are among the poorest of the country.
The issue of the unofficial borders was raised during a visit of an Iranian delegation to Erbil last week. KRG officials called for the unofficial border crossings to be recognized.
KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani floated the idea of a free-trade zone.
Since Friday, Baneh has been under high-security alert “due to the presence of numerous anti-riot forces,” the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) reported on Sunday.
With many security forces in the streets, people are staying at home, the France-based rights monitor stated, adding that “the internet connection in Baneh has been disbanded by the Provincial Council the past three days to stop the coverage of the strike.”
Dozens of strikers have reportedly been arrested, but KHRN is not able to confirm or obtain details because of the internet disruption.
Iranian authorities frequently shut down communication platforms during protests in the country. Most recently, it has banned popular messaging app Telegram.
Shopkeepers in Baneh began their strike on April 15 – closing their doors to protest rising costs due to prolonged closure of unofficial border crossings. With the unofficial routes closed, kolbars – cross-border porters – have to use the official borders where they are hit with high customs tariffs.
Strikers have stretched empty tablecloths along the streets of Baneh, representing their empty tables and inability to feed their families.
The Kurdish provinces of Iran are among the poorest of the country.
The issue of the unofficial borders was raised during a visit of an Iranian delegation to Erbil last week. KRG officials called for the unofficial border crossings to be recognized.
KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani floated the idea of a free-trade zone.
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