Seven political parties in East Kurdistan have issued a joint statement calling for a general strike on Thursday, January 9,  2026, in support of the ongoing nationwide protests in Iran and in solidarity with the people of Kermanshah, Ilam, and Lorestan.

The statement describes the protests as a clear and collective rejection of the Islamic Republic and condemns the violent crackdown on demonstrators, arrests of protesters, and reported crimes committed by security forces in western regions of Iran. According to the signatories, the strike aims to support popular demands for freedom, dignity, equality, and an end to political repression and national and cultural discrimination.

The parties emphasized East Kurdistan’s longstanding role in resistance movements and called on political forces and civil society organizations across Iran to unite against state violence and support the general strike.