News Center — Four years after the outbreak of the "Jin Jiyan Azadî" uprising in Iran and Eastern Kurdistan, the repercussions of the protest movement remain present in the political and social landscape, amid continued restrictions imposed on women and escalating arrests, sentences, and executions.

The Coordination of the Star Congress in Rojava, in a statement published today, Monday, September 14, on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the "Jin Jiyan Azadî" uprising, affirmed the continuation of women's struggle in Iran and Eastern Kurdistan, condemning the policies of repression, arrest, and execution pursued by the Iranian authorities.

The uprising began on September 16, 2022, following the death of young Kurdish woman Jina Amini, from the city of Saqqez in Eastern Kurdistan, after she was detained by Iran's morality police on the pretext of violating hijab rules. The protests quickly spread to the cities of Eastern Kurdistan and various regions of Iran, before the slogan "Jin Jiyan Azadî" became a slogan with global presence.

"The slogan has become a philosophy for a free life"

The Coordination recalled in its statement Jina Amini and Shiler Rasul, along with the women who lost their lives during the course of the protests and the struggle for freedom, considering that the path begun by these women is still continuing in Eastern Kurdistan and Iran.

It noted that "Jin Jiyan Azadî" has gone beyond being a protest slogan to become a "philosophy for a free life," based on considering women's freedom as the foundation for society's liberation, and on strengthening women's will, organization, and ability to defend themselves.

According to the statement, the slogan has also become a common framework for the struggles of women in different regions of the world seeking to achieve freedom and equality.

Criticism of repressive and execution policies

The Coordination of the Star Congress criticized what it described as the Iranian authorities' escalation of policies of arrest, repression, and execution, noting the continuation of women's resistance inside Evin, Qarchak, and other prisons. It expressed its support for a number of women facing death sentences or execution threats, including Bijan Azizi, Risha Moradi, Beita Hemmati, and Arghavan Fallahi, affirming that their resistance represents an extension of the struggle for freedom.

It also recalled the memory of Arezou Rastad and the women who were executed, affirming its determination to continue the struggle against execution and violence against women, noting that violence against women and femicide represent one of the manifestations of patriarchal mentality and male domination.

The statement criticized what it described as the authorities' interference in women's lives and bodies, the imposition of rules related to clothing, as well as restrictions imposed on women's organizing, freedom of expression, political arrests, and the implementation of death sentences.

The Coordination of the Star Congress considered that these policies reflect a single approach based on strengthening control and repression, noting that the Iranian authorities, instead of expanding the space for political and democratic solutions, have moved, according to the statement, toward tightening repressive measures.

It also considered that the use of the death penalty as a means to intimidate protesters, political opponents, and women activists reflects the authorities' reliance on force and violence instead of establishing a democratic relationship with society.

Escalating repression does not mean the regime has become stronger

The statement noted that the escalation of repressive measures does not necessarily mean strengthening the regime's power, but may reflect its growing fears of the growth of societal will. It noted that the continuation of arrests, the tightening of clothing-related restrictions, and the detention of political prisoners will not end the protesters' demands, but may increase the widening gap between the authorities and society.

The Coordination affirmed that women in Iran continue to demand their right to determine their lives, bodies, and future, considering that women's awareness of their will and ability to organize makes returning to a state of submission difficult.

Affirmation of continuing the struggle

The Coordination stressed that its struggle is not limited to confronting the policies of the Iranian authorities, but includes, according to its vision, working to build a "free life" based on liberating women from all forms of political, social, religious, and patriarchal domination.

It said that the four years since the outbreak of the "Jin Jiyan Azadî" uprising have shown, in its words, that repression, prisons, and judicial rulings have not been able to end the demands for freedom.

It expressed its solidarity with the women of Eastern Kurdistan, and pledged to continue supporting detained women and opposing execution, violence, and repression against women, along with defending what it described as the free life, democratic society, and the organized will of women.

It concluded its statement by affirming its continued standing alongside the struggles of women extending from Rojava to Eastern Kurdistan and from the Middle East to different regions of the world.