Iranian Demonstrations Heat Up In Kurdish Cities, Met With Military Violence

Istambul-International Business Times-May 09 2015-

Farinaz Khosrawani, an employee of the Tara Hotel in Mahabad, a

mostly Kordish city in northwestern Iran, leaped to her death from

the fourth floor of the hotel building Monday, according to

BasNews in Kurdistan. Eyewitnesses and local mediasaid

Khosrawani jumped to avoid being sexually assaulted by an

intelligence officer.

Iran-Mahabad-Frinaz

Khosrawani’s death sparked demonstrations and violent clashes

with security officers in Mahabad.

Activists posted photographs on Twitter of the burning of the hotel

by demonstrators and the violent crackdown in Mahabad:

One media outler reported security officers had fired rubber bullets

and tear gas at protesters.

Mahabad uprising

Iran-Repression in Mahabad

Maryam Rajavi , the president-elect of the National Council of 

Resistance of Iran, who is living in exile in Paris, said in a statement she supported the demonstrations. The NCRI is a

constituent of an umbrella opposition group that includes five political organizations.

Kurds across the three conuntries marched in theirrespective cities, 

holding signs with the phrase 'JusticeForFarinaz'.

Leading human-rights advocates say there has been a clear increase in the number of activists arrested, detained and tortured because of their demonstrating and activity on social media sites, particularly Facebook, since Rouhani took office in August 2013. The arrests and violence in the streets came as Iran’s hardliners have struggled to keep tabs on a growing population that wants greater freedom of speech, a right Rohani promised he would fight to achieve when he was elected.