Newroz celebrations have started across Turkey and Kurdistan territory on Sunday with the participation of hundreds of thousands of people demanding freedom for Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan and status for Kurds.

Hundreds of thousands have gathered in Istanbul to join the Newroz celebrations organized by Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) and People's Democratic Congress (HDK). BDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş and Istanbul deputy Sırrı Süreyya Önder will address the people here.

The Newroz area in Mersin has intensely been surrounded by police forces and armored vehicles. The people joining the celebration are dressed in traditional clothes and carrying yellow, red and green banners. They are subjected to body search at two different places. The meeting is joined by ten thousand people including BDP deputy Ertuğrul Kürkçü, BDP Akdeniz Mayor Fazıl Türk and a number of BDP officials and Peace Mothers.

Around ten thousand people have gathered in İzmir for Newroz celebrations organized by the BDP. "Freedom for Öcalan, status for Kurds" is the main slogan read in banners and chanted by thousands.

Newroz celebration has also started in Adana where left-wing, socialist political parties as well as unions and NGOs have also taken to the meeting area to welcome the Newroz.

Hundreds of thousands have also taken to the streets in Van where Kurds, in traditional dresses, are carrying huge flags of Öcalan and the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party). Police has taken intense security measures in the Newroz area. Thousands of others from Bitlis, Muş, Ağrı, Kars, Ardahan, Erzurum, Iğdır and Hakkari are also joining the Newroz celebrations in Van.

Thousands in Bingöl, Mardin, Dersim and Ceylanpınar are also celebrating the Newroz in mass.