Kurdistan Human Rights Network

In March, Iranian security forces detained dozens of Kurdish activists and the individuals who organise annual Newroz (also Nowruz in Persian) celebrations in the Kurdish cities and villages in Iran.

These activists were summoned by intelligence institutions, were threatened and were forced to sign written pledges prohibiting participants from using Kurdish symbols and playing happy and epic songs; such as the Kurdish national anthem.

The pledges also banned the Kurdish dance by mixed groups of men and women at the ceremonies.

Security agencies tried to force people to celebrate Newroz as a ceremony of the state by imposing rules such as obtaining official permission from governorates, holding celebrations in areas allowed by the governorates, and hoisting the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

In addition, in March Iranian courts sentenced two Kurdish political prisoners to the death penalty.

Detentions and Arrests

During this period, Iranian security forces detained at least 28 people in Kurdistan, which included 23 civilians, four activists, and one artist.

Of these individuals, at least 23 were detained over their participation in Newroz celebrations and only one civilian named Sardar Karamat was detained to serve a prison sentence.

Prison Sentences

In March, Iranian courts sentenced at least 19 people to prison sentences varying from three months in prison to the death penalty.

Iranian courts sentenced two Kurdish political prisoners to death in the past month.

In early March, Branch 2 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Orumiyeh, northwestern Iran, sentenced Kurdish political prisoner Firouz Musalou to the death penalty.

Also, Branch 1 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Khoy, West Azerbaijan province, sentenced a Kurdish civilian named Hatem Ozdemir, who holds Turkish citizenship, to death after holding him in detention for 33 months.

The courts charged both prisoners with “armed insurrection” (baghi) through “membership in the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)”.

Executions

In March, Iran executed two prisoners over drug-related charges and two on charges of “premeditated murder”.

While one of these prisoners was executed in Arak Central Prison, western Iran, the other three were executed in Orumiyeh Central Prison, in the northwestern province of West Azerbaijan.

These are the cases on which the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has been informed through its sources. But the number of those executed is likely to be higher.

Kolbars

In March, at least two kolbars lost their lives and 18 were injured.

At least one kolbar was killed and 11 kolbars were injured following shootings by Iranian border forces in the country’s western borders. Another was injured falling from border heights after being chased by border forces.

One kolbar lost his life due to frostbite, one was injured falling from border heights, and four were injured in various accidents.

Worker Accidents

During March, at least three workers lost their lives in work accidents. Two workers died as a result of falling from buildings and one committed suicide after being fired from the municipality of Sanandaj, the northwestern Kurdistan province.