The Oslo-based Hengaw Human Rights Organization said that Salman Pasang from Piranshahr, Hadi Jamei, Abubakr Irandoost, and Kamal Tahaei Kaniserkh from Oshnavieh (Shno), and Fuad Keshavarz from Saqqez were arrested “in connection with the Newroz celebrations.”
Newroz is celebrated on the first day of spring, but for Kurds in western Iran (Rojhelat), the festivities begin days in advance in large crowds.
Iran frequently detains Kurdish citizens during Newroz.
On Friday, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) deployed to Kurdish areas and set up temporary checkpoints to interrogate people in a bid to stifle celebrations of Newroz, the Kurdish New Year, according to the Paris-based Kurdistan Human Rights Network. There were reports of clashes between the crowds and security forces.
Hengaw noted that Keshavarz, a singer, was arrested after singing at a Newroz festival “which was attended by more than 30,000 people.”
Iran prohibits the use of Kurdish symbols and songs during the holiday and has banned traditional Kurdish folk dances known as halparke, performed by mixed groups of men and women. Over the past year, this tradition has resurged in popularity, drawing large crowds. Events feature people dancing in traditional Kurdish clothes to Kurdish music, and lighting a large fire.
On Friday, Hengaw reported that several Kurds in Bukan and Oshnavieh were summoned by intelligence agencies and warned against participating in Newroz events.
Jamaneh and khaki are traditional Kurdish outfits that have often been worn by opposition groups and are considered symbols of resistance. Many people will share photographs of themselves wearing traditional attire on social media as an act of dissent.
