Detention of some Kurdish citizens for holding and participating in Nowruz ceremonies
26-March-2021
Category: Uncategorized
March 24, 2021
Newsgroup: Freedom of Expression – Ethnic Minorities –
Breathing in Confinement: Over the past two days, security agents in Marivan, Sanandaj and Saqez have detained more than ten citizens for participating in Nowruz ceremonies.
According to Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, on the evening of Monday, March 22, 2021, security forces raided the village of Ney in Marivan, and breaking the doors and windows, illegally entered the homes of some citizens.
Hengaw’s correspondent in “Ney” reported that several citizens have been arrested. So far however, only three of them have been identified as: “Salman Afra”, a former political prisoner, “Sivan Parto” and “Saruk Abolghasemi.”
Salman Afra, who had previously been detained and convicted, was released from Marivan Prison on March 25, 2020.
Sarvak Abolghasemi from Sanandaj also, was arrested on similar charges on Sunday March 21, on the first day of Nowruz, and was transferred to an unknown location.
The Hengaw Organization for Human Rights also wrote: Reports received from Saqqez indicate that at least nine citizens who had participated in Nowruz ceremony in the village of “Ghale Kohneh” have been detained by security agencies. The identities of the detainees are yet to be determined.