Security forces arrested Kurdish civilians Kamran Badbrout and Faraj Arsan on 3 April and took them to an undisclosed location for their participation in the Newroz (also known as Nowruz in Persian) celebrations in Malekshahi, Ilam Province.

The Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has learned that security forces raided the duo’s home in Malekshahi and arrested them without a warrant.

Thousands of people attended the Newroz celebrations in Malekshahi on 26 March, despite pressure from the security services.