Newroz Celebrations in Kurdistan: Eleven arrested, including two children, by Intelligence Forces in Sardasht
Hengaw: Saturday, March 22, 2025
Two children, Shakar Omarzadeh and Briyar Mohammadyani, along with nine other Kurds—Aram Ali, Kamal Qazani, Rahim Ghaderi, Kamran Ghazali, Osman Omarnejad, Sherzad Shekhi, Behzad Moslehat, Behrouz Hamzehpour, and Mohammad Hosseinpour—were arrested in connection with Newroz celebrations in Sardasht.
According to a report received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, security forces from the Intelligence Department detained the mentioned individuals—all residents of the village of Doleh-Garm in Sardasht.
Two days later, on March 21, they were temporarily released from prison on bail pending judicial proceedings.
Additionally, a woman named Aziz Hosseinpour—a justice-seeking mother who carried the torch to light the ceremonial fire—was summoned by the Sardasht Intelligence Department and interrogated.
Meanwhile, the confiscated mobile phones of Kamal Qazani and Mohammad Hosseinpour have not yet been returned to them.
As of the time this report was published, no detailed information is available regarding the specific charges brought against these people.
These arrests followed their participation in this year’s Newroz welcoming ceremony held in the village of Doleh-Garm, Sardasht, and were carried out by the Intelligence Department.
The event took place on Tuesday, March 18, despite warnings and attempts by Iranian government institutions to obstruct it, and was attended by a large number of local residents.
