The Newroz celebration in Istanbul is organized by the Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK) under the slogan “Democratic Society for Freedom”.

People were kept waiting at the gate for a long time and were allowed into the area in Yenikapı after a body search.

DEM Party flags and banners reading “Newroz azadî ye”(Freedom Newroz) are waved in the area, with masses dancing to songs.

The Newroz area was decorated with yellow, red and green colors and a banner reading “We stand by the call for peace and democratic society”.

The celebration started with a moment of silence and slogans such as “Bijî Serok Apo” (Long Live Leader Öcalan), “Bê Serok Jiyan Nab e” (No Life Without the Leader), “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî” (Woman, Life, Freedom) and “Bijî Newroz” (Long Live Newroz).

The organizing committee and DEM Party Istanbul co-chairs greeted the people on the stage. 

DEM Party Provincial Co-Chair Arife Çınar said, “We are fighting for the construction of a democratic society. We wish a happy Newroz to Mr. Abdullah Öcalan, who made the call of the century. We will struggle for democracy together for the peace of the peoples of Turkey. We are against all anti-democratic practices.”

DEM Party Provincial Co-Chair Çınar Altan said, “We wish a happy Newroz to the honorable Kurdish people and the peoples who struggle. Our peoples are giving the necessary response to both friend and foe.”

Reading the declaration of Istanbul Labor, Peace and Democracy Forces, Nehir Sevim emphasized that “We will change this order with the struggle of laborers, the unemployed, young people and women.”

Condemning the usurpation of municipalities, the declaration said, “The appointment of trustees to the municipalities won by elections is a blow to the will of the people.”

“We will not remain silent against these coup attempts against the will of the people,” the declaration said, stressing that young people no longer accept the darkness: “They want to condemn the youth to a futurelessness. Universities are being handed over to capital and academic freedoms are being usurped by trustees. However, young people do not accept this darkness and are expanding the resistance from campuses to the streets! Women, on the other hand, do not submit to the reactionary and male-dominated policies of the government. Taking to the streets against femicides, violence and inequality, women are enhancing their struggle against the oppression of the government. On March 8, women overcame the barricades and they light the fire of freedom in the Newroz areas! The political power offers nothing but oppression and tyranny. It tries to stop the just struggle of the people through investigations, arrests and repression. We are millions and we will never give in. Newroz is the day of resistance against oppression and freedom against bondage. It is the day of rebellion and struggle against the one-man regime, capitalist exploitation order and fascism. Let's stand together in the spirit of resistance and freedom of Newroz.”