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.

In the Kurdish province of Batman, thousands took to the streets to celebrate Newroz, chanting the slogans sık “Bijî serok Apo” (Long Live Leader Öcalan) and “Bê serok jiyan nabe” (No Life Without the Leader).

The celebration began with a minute of silence, after which Newroz Organizing Committee Co-Spokesperson Hüseyin Sarik spoke about the importance of Newroz for the Kurdish people.

Speaking after, HDP Women’s Assembly Spokesperson Ayşe Acar Başaran pointed to the ongoing problems 42 days after the devastating earthquakes that struck 11 cities in northern Kurdistan and southern Turkey, killing tens of thousands and leaving millions homeless.

“This is the day to hold the government accountable. Countless people died but not a single official has resigned. No state official was arrested or gave an account, which is why we will call those responsible to account here today. Those who did not resign will have to flee. They will give an account of what happened,” said Başaran and continued:

“The government, which is trying hard to maintain its power through trustees, detentions, arrests and massacres, portrays deaths as a result of a natural disaster and evades responsibility. This Newroz will be the end of the destruction caused by the fascist system. I salute all those who filled this area today, and commemorate the victims of the earthquake. This year’s Newroz will be the Newroz of freedom.”

Speaking after, HDP MP Mehmet Rüştü Tiryaki wished a happy Newroz to all women who made “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî” a slogan of resistance all around the world. “They have been trying to hedge against the fire of Newroz on these lands for three thousand years, but the Newroz fire has grown bigger every year. Denying the existence of the Kurds, they tried to appropriate Newroz. They carried out countless attacks to drain Newroz of its essence. Yet, the people responded to all attacks and took to the streets in millions.”

Tiryaki added: “We will bring those who respond to peace with war to account. The last word will be spoken by those resisting. It is time to speak this word and send this government away. Happy Newroz to all of you.”

Speeches were followed by musical performances by Nuray Balık and Avazên Azad.