Kurdistan Human Rights Network

Kurdish civilians Mohsen Ghader-Rash and Omid Ghadernezhad were arrested after they were summoned by the Intelligence Organisation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Miandoab, West Azerbaijan Province, on 17 April. The duo were arrested for taking part in the Newroz (also known as Nowruz in Persian) celebrations and taken to Miandoab Prison, the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has learned. Security institutions, including the...

Security forces arrested Kurdish civilians Kamran Badbrout and Faraj Arsan on 3 April and took them to an undisclosed location for their participation in the Newroz (also known as Nowruz in Persian) celebrations in Malekshahi, Ilam Province. The Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has learned that security forces raided the duo's home in Malekshahi and arrested them without a warrant. Thousands of people attended the Newroz...

Thousands of people attended today's Newroz (also known as Nowruz in Persian) celebrations in Gilan-e Gharb, Kermanshah Province, despite challenges and threats by security forces to prevent the event. After a group of civil and cultural rights activists in Gilan-e Gharb announced plans to hold a Newroz celebration on 21 March, security forces recently pressured and threatened the organisers to cancel the event. The Kurdistan Human...

Iranian security forces have detained six Kurdish civilians in Oshnavieh, West Azerbaijan province, on 10 April and taken them to the detention facility of the Ministry of Intelligence in the city. The names of these civilians are Saman Rasoulzadeh, Sanan Rasoulzadeh, Ashkan Shikak, Reza Eslamdoust, Sina Ghaderzadeh, and Diako Khalili. Reportedly, security forces raided the civilians' houses and detained them without presenting an arrest warrant. The Ministry...

In March, Iranian security forces detained dozens of Kurdish activists and the individuals who organise annual Newroz (also Nowruz in Persian) celebrations in the Kurdish cities and villages in Iran. These activists were summoned by intelligence institutions, were threatened and were forced to sign written pledges prohibiting participants from using Kurdish symbols and playing happy and epic songs; such as the Kurdish national anthem. The pledges...

Iranian security forces have arrested dozens of Kurdish civilians and activists during and after the annual Newroz (also Nowruz in Persian) celebrations in Kurdistan in the past few weeks. The security agencies of the Islamic Republic of Iran have summoned and interrogated dozens and warned them against holding Newroz celebrations in public. The Intelligence Organisation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the Ministry of Intelligence,...

Iranian security forces have detained four Kurdish civilians in the city of Baneh and its Yaqubabad village, in western Kurdistan province, on 25 March. The detainess have been taken to an unknown location. Reportedly, civilians Parviz Qaderi, Hawzhin Qaderi, Rebwar Qaderi, and Behrouz Qaderi were detained following the Newroz (also Nowruz in Persian) celebrations in Yaqubabad. The Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) had previously published a...

Iranian intelligence agencies have summoned more than 50 Kurdish activists in many Kurdish cities before Newroz celebrations, threatening them and banning the celebrations. Every year on 20 March, Kurds in different regions celebrate Newroz (known as Nowruz in Persian) by lighting fire and dancing. But as in the years before, the Intelligence Office and the Intelligence Organisation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have...

After announcements were made on social media that Nowruz (also Newroz in Kurdish) would be celebrated by lighting fire on Taragha mountain of Bukan and Roush mountain of Saqqez, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) blocked the roads leading to these mountains, preventing people from participating in the celebrations. In an interview with the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN), a civil rights activist from Bukan...