The first fire of the Newroz Festival, the symbol of "resurrection" for Kurds, was lit on 12 March this year in Licê (Lice) district of Amed (Diyarbakır) with the slogans "Rêbertiya Azad Civaka Demokratîk" and "Democratic Society for Freedom". After hundreds of provinces, districts, towns, neighbourhoods and villages, a celebration will be held in Amed today.

 

The address of the celebrations, where all eyes are on, has not changed this year. The celebrations are being held in Newroz Park in Rezan (Bağlar) district. Preparations for the celebrations started days in advance. The old concrete stage was demolished and a giant platform was built in its place. The platform was decorated with Newroz slogans and banners with the slogan "Jin, jiyan, azadî (Woman, life, freedom)". A protocol platform was also set up in the same place for the hundreds of names invited from outside.

 

ABDULLAH ÖCALAN'S WORDS IN THE FIELD!

 

A giant photograph of Kemal Kurkut, who was murdered during the 2017 Amed Newroz, was hung in the area. The banners of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan, "We started young, we will succeed young", "Freedom will win", "He who does not know how to talk to a woman cannot be a socialist", "My basic principle is fascinating life with you" and "Freedom is the purpose of the universe" were hung.

 

Hours before the start of the celebrations, as in every year, the arrivals to the area started in the early hours. Thousands of people from the surrounding provinces, districts, towns, neighbourhoods and villages made their way to the Newroz area to participate in the celebrations. Crowds started to form at the checkpoints on Qamishlo Boulevard, Newroz Street and Bağcılar Neighbourhood.

 

The slogans "Bijî Serok Apo (Long live Leader Apo)" and "Jin, jiyan, azadî" are raised on every road leading to the area. The crowd consists mainly of young people and women. Most of the citizens are participating in the celebrations wearing national clothes. Many families brought their children with them.

 

There is great enthusiasm on every road leading to Newroz. In almost all streets and avenues, people danced with the songs.

 

Entry to the area is made through 6 different gates. While heavy queues formed at each gate, citizens entering the area danced with Kurdish melodies played from the stage.

 

It attracted attention that a citizen participated in the celebrations with an IV drip.

 

THOUSANDS OF FOREIGN NAMES ARE PARTICIPATING

 

In addition to these gates, entrances started from the protocol gate located at the back of the platform. Journalists and people from all over the world who came to the city for the celebrations started to be admitted through this gate.

 

Hundreds of names from many countries were invited to this year's Amed Newroz. Hundreds of politicians, trade unionists, representatives of non-governmental organisations and journalists from France, Catalonia, Spain, Ireland, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Kenya, Czechia, India, Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, Libya, Tunisia and the Federated Kurdistan Region were invited for today's celebrations.

 

A record number of accreditation applications were received to follow the celebrations. 629 local and foreign journalists were accredited to follow Newroz.

 

While the arrivals to the area continue, the Newroz programme is expected to start in a while.

 

PROGRAMME

 

The celebrations will begin with a moment of silence in honour of those who lost their lives in the struggle for freedom and democracy. After the salute, the Kurdistan Alliance

Mehmet Kamaç, Free Women's Movement (Tevgera Jinên Azad-TJA) activist Sebahat Tuncel, Asrin Law Office lawyer Özgür Faik Erol, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chair Çiğdem Kılıçgün Uçar and Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan will speak.

 

Kemençe, Arhat, Grup Avna, Ayfer Düzdaş and Rewşan Çeliker will take the stage.

 

Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan's "Call for Peace and Democratic Society" made on 27 February is the main theme of this year's celebrations.