By Kayhan Life Staff
Three Kurdish men were arrested by the Iranian security forces on March 15th and 16th in connection with their participation in the Nowruz celebrations in the cities of Oshnavieh and Piranshahr in West Azerbaijan province.
This week marks the start of the Persian New Year or Nowruz for more than 300 million people around the world – foremost among them the people of Iran, for whom it is the most important festive occasion of the year.
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This year the holiday has coincided with the holy month of Ramadan and the commemoration of the Martyrdom of Imam Ali (Friday, March 21st). Pro-government clerics have condemned the celebrations, calling them a violation of religious sanctity, and have urged authorities to take action against organizers. The authorities, wary of mass gatherings since the 2022 protests that erupted following the death of the young Kurdish woman Mahsa (Zhina) Amini, have imposed tighter controls.
Still, in spite of the heavy restrictions, Kurdish cities across Iran are marking Nowruz with thousands gathering in public squares, performing traditional Kurdish dances and wearing colorful attire. Since the 2022 protests, Nowruz has increasingly become a politically motivated celebration – an expression of Kurdish national identity.
According to the Norwegian-based Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, security forces armed with semi-heavy weapons have been deployed in Kermanshah, Oshnavieh, Saqqez and Bukan and have moved to prevent gatherings and suppress the Nowruz celebrations.
Despite the crackdown, the festivities have continued across the Kurdish-majority regions in western Iran including the provinces of Kurdistan, Kermanshah, Ilam, and West Azerbaijan.
On March 15, the Hengaw human rights organization posted the following on X:
“As government repressive forces were heavily deployed across various areas of Oshnavieh and attempted to disrupt Newroz celebrations, their interference sparked a strong reaction from the population. In response, residents engaged in clashes with the security forces, leading to the severe beating of government troops and the confiscation of their weapons.
People Disarm Government Repressive Forces in Oshnavieh (Shno)
As government repressive forces were heavily deployed across various areas of Oshnavieh and attempted to disrupt Newroz celebrations, their interference sparked a strong reaction from the population. In response,… pic.twitter.com/Er49eoeq7y
— Hengaw Organization for Human Rights (@Hengaw_English) March 14, 2025
