JINHA

NEWS CENTER – The city of Mahabad, Iranian Kurdistan was in uprising last night after a young Kurdish woman jumped from a hotel window to escape Iranian security forces' attempt to rape her.

Police on Thursday used tear gas to remove hundreds of Kurdish citizens from the area in front of the damaged Tara Hotel, leading to near riot conditions in the city.

Ferinaz Xosrawanî, 26, worked at the Tara Hotel, in the city of Mahabad. She jumped from the fourth floor of a hotel on Monday—apparently to escape a rape attempt, some claim by security officials. Local Kurds came together in the thousands to protest. The Iranian forces interfered with live ammunition and wounded 10 people. In reaction, protesters set the Tara Hotel on fire for Ferinaz, who has quickly become a symbol of resistance.

The protestors are demanding immediate justice, but Iranian police continued to provoke clashes throughout the evening. Locals suspect hotel manager Seyid Murteza Hashimi of involvement in the death. Police have detained him—according to locals, to protect him.

There are protests for Ferinaz planned across Eastern Kurdistan and in several different countries tomorrow.

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