Middle East
Several civilians arrested during Newroz celebrations in Iran. From left: Jamal Al-Asadi, Sohrab Jalali, and Fuad Anayati. Photo: Arsalan Yarahmedi/Hengaw; Graphic: Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Hundreds of people were arrested in the Kurdish areas of Turkey and Iran during Newroz celebrations on Monday, as millions of Kurds gathered to celebrate the ancient festivity.
At least 298 people, including 100 children, in Turkey's southeastern Kurdish-populated city of Diyarbakir (Amed) were "detained unlawfully" during large-scale celebrations of Newroz, the Kurdish New Year, the Diyarbakir Bar Association said on Tuesday.
The association called for the detainees to be released immediately, decrying the unlawful nature of holding children in detention, as it is a "violation of the ban on ill-treatment," and further urging for "the practice that violates fundamental rights and freedoms" of children to be abandoned.
Meanwhile, across the border in Iran at least 60 people were arrested by security forces while celebrating Newroz in the Kurdish cities of Sanandaj and Piranshahr, Hengaw human rights organization reported.
Arsalan Yarahmedi, the head of organization, told Rudaw English that some of the civilians were detained immediately after participating in the Newroz celebrations at a children's park in Sanandaj. Iranian security forces prevented the people from attending the event and disrupted the celebration.
The disruption of celebrations was not limited to Iran given that Turkish security forces prevented numerous Kurds dressed in their traditional dress from attending the large Newroz celebration held in Diyarbakir on Monday, according to Rudaw's reporter on the ground, Rawin Sterk, who said that outfits with "a national theme" are prohibited at the event.
In the Kurdish areas in Turkey, Newroz celebrations hold a particular importance to Kurds given that they have not been allowed to celebrate their new year for decades, and are increasingly facing pressure from the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Footage circulating on social media showed police forces using water cannons to disperse a large crowd of visitors as they headed to the celebration in Diyarbakir.
Ethnic minority groups, including Kurds and Azeris, are disproportionately detained and more harshly sentenced for acts of political dissidence, according to a July 2019 report from the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran.
On Tuesday afternoon, Hengaw announced on their instagram account that 14-year old Ariana Salimi, one of the arrestees, was released from detention.
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