Dozens of Kurdish Citizens Summoned and Arrested in Connection with Nowruz Celebrations

The Kurdistan Human Rights Network has reported that in the two months since the new year, "at least 38 Kurdish citizens" have been summoned or arrested "due to holding or participating in Nowruz ceremonies." The website of this human rights organization, which covers news related to Kurdistan, wrote on Friday, May 17, that restrictions on holding Nowruz ceremonies this year have been imposed in the provinces of Ilam, Kermanshah, Kurdistan, and West Azerbaijan. The Kurdistan Human Rights Network stated: "The process of summoning, arresting, and filing legal cases against civil activists, artists, and even ordinary citizens in relation to these ceremonies continues." This human rights organization published the names of citizens who have been arrested so far, indicating that these individuals are from the cities of Bukan, Piranshahr, Saqqez, Urmia, and Gilan-e Gharb, as well as the counties of Oshnavieh, Shahin Dezh, and Sardasht. The Kurdistan Human Rights Network noted that despite security crackdowns in previous years, "the coincidence of Ramadan with Nowruz this year was an excuse for even the representatives of the Supreme Leader" in these areas to "call for preventing the holding of these celebrations and dealing with the organizers through government Friday prayer sermons and also through statements." Two Kurdish youths were injured by security forces' gunfire during Nowruz celebrations in Kermanshah. The Hengaw Human Rights Organization also announced on April 9 that the identities of "31 individuals" arrested during these celebrations have been confirmed by the organization, of which 17 have been released and 14 remain in custody. Radio Farda reported on April 7 that security forces of the Islamic Republic shot two Kurdish youths while they were "dancing and celebrating" at a Nowruz event in one of Kermanshah's parks, injuring them. In this context, Ali Shabani, the political deputy of the Kermanshah governor, also reported two days prior without mentioning numbers about the summoning, arrest, and legal cases against several "organizers" and "promoters" of the Nowruz celebration in this province. He attributed the public gatherings for Nowruz in some areas of this province to "affiliated and expatriate groups" who, according to him, are seeking to "intensify divisions and conflicts among people, ethnicities, and religions." The Kermanshah governor's office stated: "For any Nowruz celebration, you must obtain permission from us."