Celebrations of the Kurdish New Year festival, Newroz, continue across Kurdish-majority regions of Iran (Rojhilat), with massive gatherings as festivities extend throughout March.
In Kermanshah (Kermashan), thousands flooded to the Newroz arena in colourful traditional Kurdish attire, dancing to live music in a rich cultural display, as aerial photos captured the scale of the celebrations. In Saqqez (Seqiz), crowds assembled near the village of Çapanî in traditional dress to perform the govend, a round dance.
Celebrations are continuing despite arrests and threats from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), with at least 10 Kurdish activists and civilians, including two minors, arrested in recent days. A young Kurdish couple were also arrested in Sine (Şino) on Monday, 24 March, on grounds of joining the Newroz celebrations.
