Musician Bermal Çem has released a song about the resistance of the city of Amed for Newroz. Bajarê Newrozê is an adaptation of a poem by Diladar Welat and is about an invincible spirit of resistance. As the Kurdish musician explains to ANF, the song is dedicated to the martyrs.

Bermal Çem says that there are many songs about Newroz, but no new songs have been released for a long time: “Amed may be quiet at the moment, but I can always feel the resisting spirit of Amed in my heart. Even in quiet times, a volcano can erupt. Neither Amed nor any other part of Kurdistan will ever accept the oppression. So once again we say that Amed is a Newroz city. The lyrics of Bajarê Newrozê are by Diladar Welat, the music is by me. The arrangement and the recording were made by Memo Gül and Mazlum Rewşen. I thank everyone who contributed to this song.”

The blacksmith Kawa, Mazlum Doğan and Zekiye Alkan

Newroz is a resistance festival and Amed is a center of this resistance, says Bermal Çem. “Amed has been a city of resistance from the past to this day. Mazlum Doğan has become a contemporary Kawa in Amed prison.” The imprisoned Kurdish revolutionary was one of the leading cadres of the PKK. On Newroz 1982, Doğan set himself on fire in his cell in Amed prison. He left a message saying "Surrender is treason, resistance is victory".

Bermal Çem says that the struggle of the Kurdish people spread everywhere in the 1990s: “A woman climbed the city walls of Amed and set herself on fire. She merged her body with the Newroz fire. This woman was student Zekiye Alkan. With her self-immolation, Newroz has taken on a new dimension. When people talk about Newroz today, the strength of will of this Kurdish woman on the city walls of Amed comes to mind. We don't forget for a moment the struggle on Amed's streets, in Amed prison and across the city. Bajarê Newrozê is an expression of the emotions of the heroes in the mountains and of the people who resist any form of oppression. I would like to offer this song to the Kurdish people and especially to the people of Amed in Newroz. Of course I would prefer to present the song on stage in Amed and see the joy and enthusiasm of the people. But even so, it's an honour for me when people hear my voice. The song is meant to be a response to the feelings of my people.”

"Our anger will break through the prison walls"

Newroz is the symbol of freedom, Bermal Çem says, adding that “blacksmith Kawa, Mazlum Doğan, Zekiye Alkan, Rahşan Demirel, Ronahî, Bêrîvan, Sema Yüce and our comrades who have followed their footsteps have the Newroz fire in them. The excitement of the people attending Newroz in 2022 will reach Imrali. The Newroz fire will break the isolation of Abdullah Öcalan. For us, at Newroz, the goal must be to achieve the physical freedom of Rêber Öcalan. We must be present every day with the spirit of Newroz. Our anger and our voices will break through the borders and the prison walls with the power of Newroz.”