People gathered in Kasaphane, Terminal and HDP district building in early morning hours to go to the square in Konak neighborhood by buses to celebrate Newroz. Many others walked to the square through the old bridge. People wore traditional clothes like şal û şepik, tirgal, xeftan and batuyani to the celebrations held with the slogan “We will definitely win”. Some citizens marching to the grounds chanted “Newroz Pîroz Be” and women of Cizre entered the grounds with zılgıts.

Many students boycotted schools and attended the celebrations. Police checkpoints set up in several locations are causing traffic jams in main avenues in town. The police are making the people wait half an hour by the entrance and then let them through. Some banners with stars on them have been confiscated in checkpoints.

Meanwhile, people coming from other cities were met with obstacles on the Silopi BOTAŞ checkpoint. People passed through two police checkpoints and chanted “Şehid namirin”, “Bijî berxwedana Cizire” and “Bijî Serok Apo” in between. The grounds are adorned with a large banner that reads “Newroz Pîroz Be 2017” and HDP and DBP flags. People in the grounds are dancing and singing, while the crowd grows larger by the minute.

"WE CAME TO THE GROUNDS FOR THE MARTYRS”

Kurdistanis gathered in the grounds showed great interest towards the families who lost their children and Cizre People’s Assebly Co-chair Mehmet Tunç who was burned alive in the basements. Orhan Tunç was burned alive in the basements, and his mother Esmer Tunç brought his infant son Bêkes to the celebrations. Esmer Tunç celebrated Newroz and said: “I celebrate Newroz for the four parts of Kurdistan and all peoples. We came to the grounds for the martyrs. We are happy for the celebrations.”

Cemile Çağırga’s mother Emine Cağırga said Newroz will make hope grow again and stated that the people need to gather themselves. Kasım Yana’s mother Saliha Yana said she could see her son’s spirit in the Newroz grounds.