The Kurdish New Year, Newroz on 21 March, is celebrated today in 23 cities across Turkey and North Kurdistan under the motto “Her der Newroz, her dem azadî” (Everywhere Newroz, Every Moment Freedom) and “To Freedom with Newroz Fire”.

Newroz this year pays tribute to the tens of thousands of people who lost their lives in the two earthquakes that hit Kurdistan, Turkey and Syria on 6 February while at the same time reiterating the demand for freedom of Abdullah Öcalan.

The Newroz celebrations this year are organised by the DTK (Democratic Society Congress), HDK (Peoples’ Democratic Congress), TJA (Free Women’s Movement), DBP (Democratic Regions Party), HDP (Peoples’ Democratic Party) and the Green Left Party.

Rebellion and anger marked the slogans and speeches during the event where HDP İzmir provincial co-chairs Berna Çelik and Çınar Altan, Peace Mothers, MED TUHAD-FED representative Salih Tekin, Green Left Party executive Ahmet Asena, HDP İzmir MP Serpil Kemalbay delivered speeches on the importance of Newroz.

ERKAN BAŞ: WE ARE HERE, TOGETHER

The Workers’ Party of Turkey (TİP) Chairperson Erkan Baş addressed the crowd and said that the 20-year-old dictatorship has come to an end.

Baş stated: “We are here today with this hope and determination. We are here against those who left our people under the rubble. Our loved ones have been held prisoners for years. We appeal to those who want to set us against each other. We are here, united. We experienced a devastating earthquake disaster where our people fought for their lives while the rulers watched them in their palace, not even providing the people with a single tent and a cup of soup. They left us alone in our bitter days. Yet, peoples came to one another’s help. We survived holding each other’s hands. We weaved the solidarity of the century against the disaster of the century.”

Remarking that it is time to settle accounts, Baş said: “People of İzmir are here today, standing up for equality, peace and fraternity of peoples. This sign of victory is the sign of peace and freedom, the co-existence of the Kurdish and Turkish peoples. It is the sign of Deniz Gezmiş and Deniz Poyraz. The government now seeks to close the HDP, which, however, will never be left alone. The Kurdish people will never be left alone. You cannot close the will of the Kurdish people. We are here to end your exploitation.”

ÖNDER: WE SALUTE IMRALI

HDP former MP Sırrı Süreyya Önder commemorated those who died in the struggle in the person of HDP member Deniz Poyraz (a Kurdish woman who was shot dead by a Turkish fascist in the HDP building in Izmir in June 2021.)

“Peace will prevail in these lands. We will achieve peace and equality. We salute Imrali,” he said.

ÖZTÜRK: ÖCALAN'S VOICE IS THE VOICE OF PEACE

DTK Co-chair Berdan Öztürk denounced those responsible for the destruction caused by the earthquake, saying: “We will bring those responsible to account. They will not be able to flee anywhere.”

Remarking that the existence of the Kurds is being targeted in four parts of Kurdistan, Öztürk continued: “They have aggravated the isolation of Öcalan since 5 April 2015, seeking to bring Kurds in four parts of Kurdistan to their knees. They are focused on Kurdish enmity. The century-year-old system ignores the Kurds and Alevis. Ahead of us are elections, which will determine the course of the century-year-old system. Erdoğan and Bahçeli bear the denial of this system.”

Referring to the isolation regime imposed on Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan in Imrali Prison, Öztürk said: “Isolation is torture. It is an unlawful practice. Does the opposition have nothing to say about it? If you don’t speak out against isolation, we will not believe your sincerity. Do you want democracy in Istanbul, but not in Amed (Diyarbakır)? How do you ignore the will of the Kurdish people? You cannot claim to be against war and bomb Kurdistan at the same time.”

Öztürk pointed out the Turkish use of chemical weapons in Kurdistan, asking the opposition parties in the country why they are silent on this issue. I tell this to the opposition; Öcalan’s voice is the voice of peace and guarantee of an equal life.”

The celebration concluded with musical performances by Dengbêj Xalîde and Koma Hevra.