Thousands of people from different states and centres of Germany came to Frankfurt for the Newroz celebrations this year.

The mass of predominantly young people and women greeted the Kurdish resistance and protested the isolation of Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Ocalan.

The slogans “Bijî Serok Apo”, ( Long Life our Leader Apo) “Bê Serok jiyan nabe”,(No Life without our Leader) “Bijî berxwedana PKK” (Long life for the resistance in Imrali )and “Bijî berxwedana zindana” (Long life for the resistance in prisons) were chanted in the Newroz area in Frankfurt.

Youths raise Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) flags at site protesting PKK ban which leads to criminalisation of Kurds in Germany.

The main slogan of Newroz, which is initiated by KON-MED, FED-KURD, FCK, FED-MED, FCKM-Kawa and TJK-E, is “Newroz’a Reber Apo re Azadi Piroz be.” (May the Newroz of Freedom to Leader Ocalan salute)

Importance of Newroz

For Kurds, Newroz, on 21 March, is the day the fire of resistance is rekindled. According to legend, Kawa the Blacksmith killed the tyrant king Dehak on this day. The story has been central in Kurdish rebellions throughout history. In the 20th century, Kurds have turned the day into a day of resistance and revival as a people. As the saying goes, “Kurds have become Newroz, and Newroz has become the people.”