The Newroz event in Diyarbakır (Amed) as in many other places, turned out to be an enormous event where Kurdish people came together in the spirit of resistance despite all the oppression they have been facing for many years from the AKP/MHP Coalition government and the issues surrounding the Covid 19 pandemic restrictions.

Especially coming at the end of a week with the latest legal attempts to permanently shut down the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), Newroz 2021 has been especially significant for millions of Kurds in Turkey and around the world. Mainly celebrated in Kurdish cities of Turkey on 21 March, Newroz represents the rebellion and resistance of the Kurdish people against oppression.

The uprising of Kawa, the blacksmith against Dehaq, the tyrannt of 2,633 years ago has again been commemorated by the Kurds in Diyarbakır, as they raised a strong anti-fascist voice against the Turkish government, which has been increasingly targeting the HDP, which now represents the second biggest opposition in Turkey and whose previous co-chairs are in jail as well, elected MPs, elected Mayors, activists and thousands of party members.

Kurds gathered Newroz in masses

The people of Diyarbakır enthusiastically gathered at the Newroz meeting area from the early hours of the morning as the Diyarbakır Governorate, the AKP ‘trustee’ Mayor has been appointed by the Turkish government in place of the elected Co-Mayors of of the HDP banned all the public transportation to the Newroz area.

Hundreds of thousands of people joined the Diyarbakır Newroz event on Sunday with some estimates putting the figure near one million.

“HDP is the people, the people are here” along with the “Without our leader, there is no life” slogans were chanted during the Diyarbakır Newroz.

“Biji Serok Apo!” “Long Live Our Leader Apo,” slogan, which also refers to the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan was one of the main chants taken up in waves by the enourmous crowds of people during the event whilst Newroz Park was turned into a sea of flags of Abdullah Öcalan.

HDP politicians joined the Newroz event

The HDP Co-Chair Mithat Sancar also joined the Diyarbakır Newroz and made a speech. He first commemorated the memory of Kemal Kurkut, who was shot dead by the police in the Newroz of 2017.

HDP’s MPs for Diyarbakır saluted the people from the stage as they all joined the Newroz celebrations. HDP MP Semra Güzel said, “Kurds are at this place of resistance. Which ruling power can destroy this truth?”

Kurdistan Communist Party Chair Sinan Çiftyürek said on the stage, “We do not recognize your orders, here are the Kurdish people, here is the politics of the people in this square.”

The Kurds filling up Newroz Park danced traditional “halay” dances, sang their songs, chanted their slogans and demands during the Newroz event.

The dominant call that the people of Diyarbakır gave voice to at the Newroz event of 21 March 2021 was freedom for Abdullah Öcalan.