Newroz Celebrations in Kurdistan: Three Kurdish women, including two minors, arrested in Urmia

Hengaw: Friday, March 21, 2025

Three Kurdish women, including two teenage girls, were arrested by Iranian security forces in Urmia for wearing Kurdish clothing adorned with the Kurdistan flag during the city’s Newroz celebrations, which were attended by more than 150,000 people on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.

According to a report received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, at approximately 1:00 AM on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, agents from the Intelligence Department raided the home of Esmet Ahmadi, a Kurdish resident of Urmia. They arrested his two teenage daughters, Avin Ahmadi (16) and Sariya Ahmadi (17), using violent force.

A source close to the Ahmadi family confirmed the arrest and told Hengaw:
“Sixteen intelligence agents stormed Mr. Ahmadi’s home, violently arresting his two teenage daughters. They also severely beat him, to the point that he lost consciousness.”

Later that morning, Rojbin Afsoon (22), a cousin of Evin and Sariya, was also arrested by intelligence forces.

Hengaw has learned that Sariya and Avin Ahmadi were released at noon on Wednesday after being detained for 17 hours, following the signing of a written pledge by their father. However, the whereabouts and condition of Rojbin Afsoon remain unknown.

Sources close to the families of the three women confirmed that their arrests were due to wearing traditional Kurdish clothing featuring the Kurdistan flag during the Newroz celebrations.