Several civil and women’s rights activists in Sanandaj, including Soraya Khediri, Simin Chaychi, and Bahar Zangiband, have been summoned by security authorities and forced to sign written commitments pledging not to participate in any gatherings or events for International Women’s Day on March 8.
According to Kolbarnews, on Thursday, March 6, 2025, these activists were summoned to the Law Enforcement Command of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FARAJA) in Sanandaj. After their appearance, they were threatened and made to sign written commitments to abstain from attending any rallies or conferences related to International Women’s Day.
These summonses and threats were reportedly ordered by Mohammad Jabari, the Prosecutor of Sanandaj, to prevent the observance of International Women’s Day in the city.
All three activists have a history of arrests and summonses by security agencies:
Bahar Zangiband, a civil and women’s rights activist, was detained for 20 days during the Jina (Mahsa Amini) uprising and was later expelled from Islamic Azad University of Sanandaj.
Soraya Khediri, a civil and social activist, was also arrested during the Jina uprising and had previously been detained in 2018 without a judicial warrant. At the time, she was a member of the charity organization Rojyar Kurdistan.
Simin Chaychi, a poet and writer from Sanandaj, has been repeatedly summoned by security agencies due to her civil, literary, and women’s rights activism. She was also arrested during the Jina uprising.
These measures come as civil and women’s rights activists worldwide prepare to mark International Women’s Day.
