Iran, Apr 23, 2018 — On Monday, April 3, 2010, following the strike and protest of bazaar merchants in Baneh in protest against the border closure by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the increase in customs duties, the people of Baneh once again started gathering and marching to the Governorate on the eighth day of their protests.

Yesterday, the students of Marivan’s Payam Noor University, announced their participation and support of the nationwide strikes in the cities of Kurdistan, Kermanshah and West Azerbaijan provinces, by lining up in the corridors of the university and holding up placards with written slogans.

Following the strikes and protests, security forces began arresting a number of strikers since the continuation of the bazaar strike.

The Iranian government has completely closed the borders of Baneh, Marivan, Piranshahr, and Sardasht in recent months. The closure of the borders, and especially the porters’ pathway borders, has led to a sharp rise in unemployment.

According to the representative of the city of Marivan, 8,000 people have been unemployed in the city, causing a sharp recession among merchants and businesses.

The protest gathering on Monday was formed in front of the Behesht Shopping Center and more people joined the crowd every minute. In addition, shopkeepers at the Baneh bazaar and market continue to strike and not open their shops.