Iranian military-security forces have imposed a heightened security atmosphere in several cities, including Piranshahr in the run-up to Newroz, preventing the celebrations from taking place.

As part of this crackdown, at least six Kurdish civilians, identified as Matin (Behzad) Choupani, Abuobakr Khatami, Hadi Jamei, Masoud Khezri, Salman Pasang, and Foad Keshavarz, a singer and artist, have been arrested without warrants by security forces in the cities of Oshnavieh, Piranshahr, and Saqqez in recent days, the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) reported.

According to KHRN, units of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and police special forces have set up checkpoints and patrols in Piranshahr and surrounding villages, such as Khorenj and Pasveh, to prevent Newroz celebrations.

On 15 March, Keshavarz, an artist from Saqqez, Kurdistan Province, was arrested after performing several Kurdish patriotic songs at the Newroz celebrations in the city of Saheb in Saqqez County, and taken to an undisclosed location.

Despite these restrictions, thousands of people gathered in Saheb on 14 March to celebrate the arrival of Newroz.

On the evening of the same day, Pasang, a Kurdish civilian from the village of Shinabad in Piranshahr was arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.

At the same time, Choupani and Khezri, two Kurdish civilians from Oshnavieh, were arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence in the city.

Additionally, on 16 March, Khatami and Jamei, two Kurdish civilians from Oshnavieh, were arrested without warrants by the IRGC Intelligence Organisation and taken to an undisclosed location.

Despite pressure and threats from Iranian security agencies to prevent Newroz celebrations across Kurdistan, events have been ongoing in various cities and villages over the past two weeks.

Similarly, last year, hundreds of Kurdish civilians faced threats, summonses, arrests, and legal action for organising or participating in Newroz celebrations, which in many cases included singing protest songs, chanting anti-government slogans, and displaying Kurdish nationalist symbols.