Newroz, the "resistance and freedom" day for the Kurdish people, was celebrated with enthusiasm in Edinburgh with the slogan "Dem Dema Azadiyê".

Organised by the Scottish Kurdish People's Assembly, representatives of democratic mass organizations, international groups, Kurdish politician Osman Baydemir and hundreds of people attended the Newroz celebration held in the Edinburgh Kurdish Community Center area.

In the Newroz area where PYD, YPG, YPJ and PKK flags were hung, slogans such as “Bijî Newroz”, “Bijî Serok Apo”, “Jin jiyan azadî”, “Bê Serok jiyan nabe” were chanted.

'Öcalan is our red line'

Kurdish People's Assembly co-chair Engin Sağlam made the opening speech, after a minute of silence in memory of the martyrs of the revolution. After Sağlam, Alevi institutions, Kurdish Women's Initiative, youth organization representative and Kurdish politician Osman Baydemir made speeches. All speeches said that millions of people took to the streets in this year’s Newroz and added that the freedom of Kurdish people's leader Abdullah Öcalan was the red line for the Kurds.

'We will rise the resistance'

The speeches said that the people of the Middle East will engage in an all-out struggle to achieve freedom for Abdullah Öcalan in 2022. “The AKP-MHP fascism will definitely be destroyed. The democratic and libertarian will of the peoples against fascism will come to life once the resistance is raised in all areas,” said all speakers.

Koma Cûdî took the stage after the speeches, while Govenda Kurdi, a dance group within the Kurdish People's Assembly, took the stage and danced halay with the accompaniment of drums and zurna.