At least 43 Kurdish activists, artists and civilians have been detained over the past three months in various cities and villages for their involvement in Newroz celebrations.
The Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) reported that the Ministry of Intelligence arrested Hazhar Mahmoudi, the manager of the Shnoyakam Instagram page, along with four other people, after summoning them in Oshnavieh, West Azerbaijan Province, on 20 May.
According to the report, the detainees, including photographer Delshad Shadab, presenters Baset Ghaderzadeh and Zaher Hajipour, and Kurdish language teacher Sami Mahmoudi-Aghdam, were taken to an undisclosed location.
The arrests are reportedly linked to the recent Newroz celebrations, which have come under increased scrutiny from the Iranian authorities.
The Shnoyakam Instagram page was deactivated following these arrests.
According to statistics compiled by the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN), at least 43 Kurdish activists, artists and civilians have been detained over the past three months in various cities and villages in the provinces of Ilam, Kermanshah, Kurdistan and West Azerbaijan for their involvement in Newroz celebrations.
