Newroz celebrations are underway in Istanbul, Bakırköy with the motto "We will definitely win and break the isolation".

Thousands of people have been pouring into the area since the early hours of the morning, chanting slogans in support of the hunger strike resistance demanding the end of the isolation imposed on Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan.

Despite the arbitrary detentions and provocations carried out at the police search control points, the citizens entered the area with great enthusiasm. Children and young people who were taken into custody were beaten by the police.

People of all ages are joining the rally, carrying HDP flags and photos of Abdullah Öcalan, Leyla Güven and the other hunger strikers.

Artists Ayşe Kolivar and Doğan Çelik are presenting the event.

Free Women’s Movement (Tevgera Jinen Azad, TJA) has written a poem for HDP Hakkari MP Leyla Güven who has been on hunger strike for 137 days demanding the end of isolation against Abdullah Öcalan.

The poem was read by Rewşen Alpaydın.

Newroz fire lit

The Newroz celebration began with a minute’s silence to pay tribute to Zülküf Gezen, Ayten Becet, Uğur Şakar who ended their life to protest isolation. The Newroz fire was lit by the families of the prisoners on hunger strike.

HDP Istanbul Provincial co-chairs Esengül Demir, Cengiz Çiçek and Istanbul Deputies saluted the crowd.

HDP co-chair Pervin Buldan, HDK co-spokeperson Sedat Şenoğlu and Peace Mothers are also delivering speeches.