Newroz celebrations have been taking place for the last one week across the Kurdish region where people are taking to the streets in all provinces, districts, towns and villages, chanting the slogan “Freedom for Öcalan, status for Kurds”.

People light Newroz fire and dance halay (traditional Kurdish dance) around the fire till late hours at night.

Newroz celebrations are also continuing in Hakkari where the organization for the Newroz is led by Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) district organization.

Speaking at the Newroz celebration area in the neighborhood of  Dağgöl, BDP district chair Rahmi Kurt said that this year's Newroz will be of historic importance for witnessing the Kurdish people voicing their demands for the liberation of the Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan and status for Kurds. Kurt called on the people of Hakkari to join the neighborhood celebrations till 18 March when -he added- a great celebration will take place with the participation of BDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş. Kurt called on all Kurdish people to join the Newroz celebrations in Amed on 21 March.

Newroz celebrations are also continuing in many other places across Turkey and Kurdistan including the districts of Silvan and Bismil in Diyarbakır, Şırnak's Cizre district, Mardin's Derik district, Adana and Istanbul. Other demos are taking place in Van, Bingöl, Mersin, Ergani, Ceylanpınar, Viranşehir, Konya and Antalya.