Culture

iranintl – Iranian judicial authorities have announced arrests and legal action against individuals who took part in New Year’s celebrations at historical sites, accusing them of desecration, disrupting public order, and violating Islamic norms. The gatherings in Fras Province and the religious city of Mashhad were marked by dancing and anti-government slogans, as well as expressions of support for the former Pahlavi …

iranintl – Iranians gathered at major historical sites across the country to celebrate the New Year with patriotic chants calling for the return of the pre-Islamic Revolution monarchy. At Persepolis, the ancient ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire in Fars province, large crowds counted down to the arrival of spring, undeterred by state efforts to downplay the celebration in favor …

Iranwire – Ali Khamenei displayed no symbols of Nowruz in his New Year’s message and completely ignored the ancient Persian celebration. He has followed this pattern in past years, but this year, the lack of Nowruz symbols was more noticeable than before. While many officials mentioned Nowruz in their messages, the Supreme Leader made sure his speech included no Nowruz …

iranintl – Iranians across the country defied government warnings and took to the streets en masse on Tuesday night in celebration of the ancient festival of Charshanbe Suri in spite of a huge security presence. Celebrations of the ancient festival were marred by clashes with security forces who came to blows with revellers and reports that 19 had died and …

Iranwire – Thousands of people across western Kurdish cities have taken to the streets in a display of cultural pride and defiance to celebrate the Persian New Year (Nowruz) with traditional dancing and festivities, despite official opposition. چه جشنی و عجب “نەورۆز”ـی 🔥❤️ت.ب. ئەو گۆرانیەم زۆر پێ خۆشەبژی #سەقز بژی #کوردستان pic.twitter.com/ocLauuZqn3— Hazhir (@HazhirKvn) March 15, 2025 نوروز ، فریاد آزادی کوردستانبا آغاز رسمی مراسم …

Iranwire – The Islamic Republic’s Parliament rejected a proposal to teach ethnic languages in schools just days after International Mother Language Day on February 21. While media reports highlighted the global importance of mother language-based education, several Kurdish civil activists were arrested for advocating this basic right. Mina, a young mother, was forced to live apart from her husband for …

iranintl – Iranian authorities have ramped up an effort to control female singers, blocking Instagram accounts belonging to multiple artists in recent days under judiciary orders. The latest to be affected is Golsa Rahim-Zamani, an Iranian singer known for sharing her performances online. The Islamic Republic is a theocracy which bans women from singing in public and enforces the Islamic …

VOA – Reports from various Iranian cities indicate an economic downturn and market recession, with shopkeepers in bazaars lamenting that “no business is happening,” the markets are in “winter hibernation mode,” and the usual festive atmosphere of Nowruz, the Persian new year, is absent. Click here for the full story in Persian.

iranintl – As Iranians prepare to celebrate the ancient Persian New Year, which predates Islam, the IRGC commander in Ilam has announced that official Nowruz celebrations in the province will not be granted permits. His remarks come as Ramadan coincides with Nowruz this year, a point he highlighted while stressing that celebrations must adhere to religious principles. “These kinds of …

Iranwire – Iranian directors Hossein Molayemi and Shirin Sohani won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for “In the Shadow of the Cypress.” They arrived in Los Angeles just three hours before the ceremony due to visa complications. The 20-minute animated film follows a retired sea captain struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder while caring for his daughter. “Believe it …