On the eve of Newroz, Iranian Kurds have defied intense security pressures to imbue this year’s celebrations with a distinctly political tone.
Reports from Iranian Kurdistan (Rojhilat) reveal that Kurds across all four provinces—from Maku in the north to Ilam in the south—have embraced Newroz with unwavering resolve, celebrating in defiance of security restrictions while proudly asserting their Kurdish identity.
Footage circulating in the media show thousands of Kurds in the southernmost part of Iranian Kurdistan—Malekshahi, Ilam Province—welcomed Newroz on 13 March with vibrant festivities. Dressed in traditional Kurdish attire, they danced and held exuberant ceremonies, despite prior warnings from security institutions that such gatherings, particularly during the month of Ramadan and featuring Kurdish symbols, could lead to legal consequences.
Similarly, images from Saqqez in Kurdistan Province depict Kurds ushering in the New Year in open defiance of state-imposed restrictions. Despite the Iranian government’s ban on mixed-gender dancing and festive assemblies, locals continued to celebrate, reinforcing Newroz as a symbol of cultural and political resilience.
In Mahabad, West Azerbaijan Province, Kurds marked Newroz by prominently displaying Kurdish symbols, transforming the occasion into a powerful statement of political defiance through widespread celebrations across the city.
On 14 March, according to published footage, Kurds in Deredrij, one of Kermanshah city’s neighborhoods, gathered despite threats from security forces, welcoming Newroz and the New Year with dance and jubilation—once again affirming their cultural identity in the face of mounting pressure.
Despite persistent efforts by the Iranian government to suppress Kurdish expressions of identity, the widespread Newroz celebrations across Iranian Kurdistan underscore a collective determination to resist cultural erasure and reaffirm Kurdish unity.
Medya News has previously reported that, ahead of Newroz, civil society activists in Iranian Kurdistan are facing intensified threats. The intelligence agency has warned Kurds of severe consequences for participating in celebrations. In the past two days, over 20 people in Oshnavieh (Sino) and dozens in Piranshahr (Xane) have been summoned and threatened with prosecution for holding ceremonies or using Kurdish symbols.
