A group of women and labor-civil activists gathered in Ferdowsi Avenue in the city of Sanandaj on March 8 to commemorate International Women’s Day. The ceremony was held in Kurdish and Farsi.
Security forces and plainclothes agents were seen attacking those participating in this gathering in an attempt to disperse the crowd. Conditions reached a point that Ferdowsi Avenue was closed to any vehicle commuting. Intelligence agents intended to arrest one of the individuals, yet others protested and intervened.
During the past few days security forces have summoned and threatened a number of labor and civil activists in the city of Sanandaj, incoming reports indicate. They were told they have no right to take part in such a ceremony on Women’s Day.

(NCRI Women’s Committee – March 11, 2016)