For all of the latest Kurdish news, see these sources:
ANF English: https://anfenglishmobile.com/
Hawar News: https://hawarnews.com/en/
Rojava Information Center: https://rojavainformationcenter.com
Women Defend Rojava: http://womendefendrojava.net/en/
Rojhelat: http://rojhelat.info/en/
Rojava Centre for Strategic Studies
Komun Academy:
Center for Human Rights in Iran
https://www.iranhumanrights.org/
Iran Human Rights
Kurdistan Press Agency
http://kurdistanhumanrights.org/en
KMMK
Hengaw
NEWS
1. UN rights chief condemns Iranian state violence against minorities
2. A Kolbar injured by direct shootings from Iranian armed forces on the borders of Nowruz
3. One killed and three wounded in explosion in southeastern Iran as millions celebrates Newroz
4. Iran’s IRGC prevent Kurds from celebrating Nowruz in Bukan, Saqqez
5. The Marivan Revolutionary Court sentenced two citizens to prison
6. PJAK – Statement of the activities on 17th March 2021
7. Red Wednesday celebrations in Iran: 9 dead, 1900 injured
8. The Solidarity against the face of common enemies and the similar politics is to the prerequisite for struggle and victory
9. 13 Kurdish citizens from Marivan sentenced to prison and flogging for participating in protests against Turkish military attack on Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava)
10. Environmentalist, Simko Marufi, was detained by security forces in Bokan
11. 39 Human Rights Groups Support Renewal of UN Special Rapporteur’s Mandate on Iran
12. Provocative music video leads to arrests in Iran
13. Iran sends three Kurdish civilians to prison to serve sentences
14. At least 11 Kurdish women activists remain detained in Iran: human rights monitors
15. Siamand Moeini: “The dispute of the Iranian people is the lack of Justice and Democracy.”
REPORTS
1 Iranian Kurdistan in a month: 14 activists arrested, two prisoners executed, two kolbars lost their lives
2 International Women’s Day report: A year of femicide, honour-killings, arrests, torture of Kurdish women in Iran
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Global Kurdish Film Festival from 16 to 27 April 2021
Providing vital help to Iranians: “Moms Against Poverty” and
“Relief International”
Supporting the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI)
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NEWS
1. Peshmerga visit Iran’s Kurdish areas for Newroz
22 March 2021 | Rudaw
Armed Peshmerga fighters from the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI) joined Newroz celebrations in various Kurdish areas in western Iran, according to social media posts and statements from the KDPI.
https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iran/220320212
2. A Kolbar injured by direct shootings from Iranian armed forces on the borders of Nowsud
22 March 2021 | Hengaw
According to a report received by Hengaw Human Rights Organization, on Sunday, March 21, 2021, Iranian Border Gaurds forces opened fire on a group of Kolbars in the Nosud border heights and wounded one of them identified as Bahrooz Moradi from Salas Babajani. https://hengaw.net/en/news/a-kolbar-injured-by-direct-shootings-from-iranian-armed-forces-on-the-borders-of-nowsud-1
3. One killed and three wounded in explosion in southeastern Iran as millions celebrates Newroz
22 March 2021 | Rudaw
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said that an attack in the country’s southeast has killed one person and wounded three others on the first day of the Iranian new year, when millions celebrate the arrival of spring by venturing to the countryside.
https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iran/21032021
4. Iran’s IRGC prevent Kurds from celebrating Nowruz in Bukan, Saqqez
19 March 2021 | KHRN
After announcements were made on social media that Nowruz (also Newroz in Kurdish) would be celebrated by lighting fire on Taragha mountain of Bukan and Roush mountain of Saqqez, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) blocked the roads leading to these mountains, preventing people from participating in the celebrations.
5. The Marivan Revolutionary Court sentenced two citizens to prison
18 March 2021 | kurdpa
The court charged Meraj Mortezaei and Hiwa Azizpour, from the village of Deyvaznav, in the Sarvabad district with “collaborating with a Kurdish opposition party of Iran” and sentenced Meraj Mortezaei to one year in prison and Hiwa Azizpour to five months in prison.
https://kurdpa.net/en/news/the-marivan-revolutionary-court-sentenced-two-citizens-to-prison
6. PJAK – Statement of the activities on 17th March 2021
17 March 2021 | Rojhelat
We will campaign and fight against the oppressive actions of the fascist regime in the Islamic Republic of Iran. We will endeavour to achieve a cohesive unity in Iran and East Kurdistan, to vindicate our active presence in the region.
http://rojhelat.info/en/?p=10271
7. Red Wednesday celebrations in Iran: 9 dead, 1900 injured
16 March 2021 | ANF
At least 9 people lost their lives and nearly 1900 people were injured during the celebrations of Çarşema Sor (Red Wednesday) in Iran.
https://anfenglish.com/news/red-wednesday-celebrations-in-iran-9-dead-1900-injured-50693
8. The Solidarity against the face of common enemies and the similar politics is to the prerequisite for struggle and victory
15 March 2021 | Rojhelat
As we have mentioned in previous evaluation, the regime is in an absolute war formation. The war takes place on two fronts and simultaneously. This means that the regime has launched all-out attacks inside of the country and against the people of Iran and at the abroad arena; it continues its belligerent policies (PJAK).
http://rojhelat.info/en/?p=10254
9. 13 Kurdish citizens from Marivan sentenced to prison and flogging for participating in protests against Turkish military attack on Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava)
13 March 2021 | Hengaw
According to an informed source, the sentence was issued by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary and General Court of Marivan on charges of disturbing public order through illegal gathering and clashes with law enforcement officers.
10. Environmentalist, Simko Marufi, was detained by security forces in Bokan
14 March 2021 | kurdpa
On Monday, March 8th, Simko Maroufi, an environmental activist from Bokan, was arrested by security forces and taken to an unknown location…so far, no information is available on the reason for the arrest and the charges against this environmental activist.
https://kurdpa.net/en/news/environmentalist-simko-marufi-was-detained-by-security-forces-in-bokan
11. 39 Human Rights Groups Support Renewal of UN Special Rapporteur’s Mandate on Iran
12 March 2021 | IHR
39 Iranian and international NGOs, including IHR, signed a joint letter calling on HRC member states to support the renewal of the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran.
https://iranhr.net/en/articles/4664/
12. Provocative music video leads to arrests in Iran
12 March 2021 | Al-Monitor
Iran has arrested two music producers accused of working with a US-based Iranian pop singer whose risqué music video has caused outrage in the conservative Middle East country, the Associated Press reports.
13. Iran sends three Kurdish civilians to prison to serve sentences
11 March 2021 | KHRN
Iran has imprisoned three Kurdish civilians, accusing two of them of “assembly and collusion” and “membership in a Kurdish opposition group”, and the other of “propaganda against the state”, sources told the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN).
https://kurdistanhumanrights.org/en/iran-sends-three-kurdish-civilians-to-prison-to-serve-sentences/
14. At least 11 Kurdish women activists remain detained in Iran: human rights monitors
08 March 2021 | Rudaw
At least 11 Kurdish women activists arrested over the past year remain imprisoned and detained in Iran as the world marks International Women’s Day, human rights watchdogs said on Monday.
https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iran/08032021
15. Siamand Moeini: “The dispute of the Iranian people is the lack of Justice and Democracy.”
07 March 2021 | Rojhelat
“I doubt that [Barzani and his party] dared to conflict militarily with the freedom movement, because does not have the capacity of the power to confront the military with the liberation movement, therefore, it is anticipated that the emissary will be in service of Turkey, but will not participate in Turkish operations against the freedom fighters.”
http://rojhelat.info/en/?p=10249
REPORTS
1. Iranian Kurdistan in a month: 14 activists arrested, two prisoners executed, two kolbars lost their lives
22 March 2021 | KHRN
The information gathered by the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) shows that at least 14 Kurdish civilians and activists have been arrested in seven cities in the past month. While seven of these have been arrested to serve their prison sentences, seven have been detained by security forces seven cities in Iran, in the past month.
2. International Women’s Day report: A year of femicide, honour-killings, arrests, torture of Kurdish women in Iran
08 March 2021 | KHRN
On the occasion of the International Women’s Day, the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has prepared a detailed report on the detentions and arrests of women activists, murdering of women, honour killings, and suicides by women in Iranian Kurdistan between 8 March 2020 and 8 March 2021.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Global Kurdish Film Festival from 16 to 27 April 2021
London Kurdish Film Festival launches this year’s edition trailer on Newroz
March 2021 | ANF
The 12th London Kurdish Film Festival has launched the trailer of the “first-ever Global Kurdish Film Festival Edition” on Newroz day.
Providing vital help to Iranians: “Moms Against Poverty” and
A Message of Hope and Strength to the People of Iran this Nowruz
17 March 2021 | CHRI
As Iranian families remember the beautiful traditions of Nowruz, the Persian New Year, we ask our friends and supporters for renewed solidarity and a commitment to support the basic rights of all Iranians.
Supporting the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI)
“Art for Change” Prints by Shirin Neshat, Kour Pour, Arghavan Khosrav to Benefit Center for Human Rights in Iran
15 March 2021 | CHRI
Proceeds from museum-quality, collectible prints by three renowned Iranian-American artists will benefit the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) in the inaugural “Changemaker” series by the sponsor , Art for change.
Peace in Kurdistan
Campaign for a political solution of the Kurdish Question
Email: estella@gn.apc.org
https://www.peaceinkurdistancampaign.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peaceinkurdistan1/
Contacts Estella Schmid: 07846 666 804 & Melanie Gingell: 07572 430903
Patrons: John Austin, Baroness Blower of Starch Green, former GS NUT, Prof Bill Bowring, Julie Christie, Noam Chomsky, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Prof Mary Davis, Lord Dholakia, Simon Dubbins, UNITE International Director, Jill Evans, former MEP, Desmond Fernandes, Lindsey German, Convenor STWC, Melanie Gingell, Christopher Gingell, Prof Dr. Michael Gunter, Secretary-General, EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC), Rahila Gupta, journalist, Nick Hildyard, policy advisor, Dafydd Iwan, Former President Plaid Cymru, James Kelman, Bruce Kent, Jean Lambert, former MEP, Dr Les Levidow, Open University, Elfyn Llwyd, John McDonnell MP; Aonghas MacNeacail, Scottish Gaelic poet, Mike Mansfield QC, David Morgan, journalist, Doug Nicholls, General Secretary, GFTU, Dr. Jessica Ayesha Northey, Sinn Fein MLA Conor Murphy, Dr Thomas Jeffrey Miley, Kate Osamor MP, Margaret Owen OBE, Ali Gul Ozbek, Former Councillor and Mayor of Haringey; Gareth Peirce, Dr Felix Padel, Maxine Peake, actor, Dr Thomas Phillips, Liverpool John Moores University, Trevor Rayne, writer, Joe Ryan, Tony Simpson, Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation, Stephen Smellie, PIK Trade Union Liaison Officer, Jonathan Steele, journalist, Steve Sweeney, journalist, Gianni Tognoni, General Secretary Permanent People’s Tribunal, Dr Tove Skutnabb-Kangas, Dr Federico Venturini, Associate Researcher, University of Udine, Italy; Dr Tom Wakeford, Dr Derek Wall, Julie Ward, former MEP, Kariane Westrheim, Chair, EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC); Hywel Williams MP.