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 said: “Every year, a glorious ceremony is held by the citizens of Bukan on Mount Torgheh as a symbol, but since this morning, the IRGC forces have been stationed on the roads leading to this mountain and have blocked the movement of citizens to this area.”


Reportedly, the IRGC forces also simultaneously stationed on the roads near Roush Mountain in Saqqez and by blocking the roads, they prevented citizens from attending celebrations.


Every year, under various pretexts, the Intelligence Organisation of the IRGC and the Intelligence Office of various cities, summon and threaten citizens to prevent Nowruz celebrations from being held.