Newroz (Kurdish New Year) celebrations in Diyarbakýr are every year joined by hundreds of thousands of people. This year it has been announced that the main event will be held on Sunday 18 March.

In a press conference organized by Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) Diyarbakýr co-chair Zübeyde Zümrüt said that the celebrations this year will last ten days.

Zümrüt added that this year Newroz will arrive in a situation where people are still being killed in military operations. He underlined the pain of the village of Roboski [34 civilians killed by Turkish bombing on 28 December] slaughter. He also reminded of the seven-month isolation and torture against mr. Öcalan in Imralý, used against the Kurdish people right to decide and say their opinion. He then reminded the city of Van wounds caused by the earthquake, wounds which are still open, like the wounds caused by recent news about rape, sexual abuse and torture events in Pozantý Closed Juvenile prison. Finally the BDP executive underlined that the political massacre of Kurdish people continues as well indicated by the 6500 people arrested and the hundreds on hunger strikes in and outside prisons to protest against injustice and discrimination.

Zümrüt ended her statement calling all people to join the great Newroz.