For the first time since 2011, Newroz celebrations were held in Raqqa and were joined by people from Deir ez-Zor and Tabqa.

Thousands of people joined the Newroz celebration starting from the early hours of the morning.

Newroz was celebrated under the slogan ‘Let's liberate the occupied areas of Syria in the spirit of Newroz’. The fire of Newroz was lit in tribute to the martyrs of freedom.

Speeches underlined that Newroz represented victory and a new year of resistance against persecution.

Speaking on behalf of Raqqa Civil Council, Culture and Arts Committee co-chair, Hesen Mistefa said: “Newroz is a victory day for the peoples of the Middle East. The victories of the SDF heroes against DAESH (ISIS) are being completed in Baghouz.”

Speaking on behalf of the Northern and Eastern Syrian Autonomous Administration, Receb al-Mishrif said that Newroz was the new year and renaissance of all peoples. “The Newroz fire enlightens the dignity of the Kurdish, Arab and Assyrian peoples” he said.

Şemsa al-Salih, from Martyrs' Families Institution, said that they could celebrate Newroz today thanks to the price paid by the martyrs and added: “Today we celebrate our Newroz thanks to our martyrs. Happy Newroz to all martyrs’ families. Because thanks to them, our hopes have grown.”

After the speeches, Circassian, Qamishlo and Raqqa folk dance groups ended the celebration in music.