Newroz celebrations took place across southeast Turkey’s Kurdish region (Bakur) under the leadership of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP), the Free Women’s Movement (TJA), and the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party. From the early hours, tens of thousands marched from the city centre, districts, and villages to Newroz Square near Van Fortress, rallying under the slogan ‘Free Leadership, Democratic Society’.

Footage from Mezopotamia News Agency and Sterk TV captures the electrifying atmosphere, with chants of “Long Live Leader Apo” reverberating through the crowd. Women and youth, adorned in vibrant Kurdish attire, infused the celebration with colour, while green, red, and yellow flags waved defiantly.

The event opened with a moment of silence, followed by speeches from DEM Party co-chair for Van city Veysi Dilekci and DBP Van co-chair Gonul Uzunay, who reaffirmed their unwavering support for Öcalan’s call for peace and for his physical freedom. Artist Fikret Goyi then took the stage, igniting the ceremonial Newroz fire amid roaring cheers.

Van Metropolitan Municipality Co-Mayor Neslihan Şedal, who was replaced by a government-appointed trustee in 2024, underscored the city’s enduring spirit of resistance, declaring:

“The people of Van have never bowed to oppression and will stand firmly behind Öcalan’s call for peace.”

Co-Mayor Abdullah Zeydan echoed this, stressing that Öcalan’s paradigm represents a path to liberation for all peoples.

Kurds will not be broken by massacres

Sinan Çiftyürek, a member of the Kurdistan Communist Party (KKP) Central Executive Committee, delivered a powerful speech condemning the massacres against Kurdish people, and sending a message of defiance:

“The Kurdish people will never be broken by massacres. Those who seek to crush us will fail. Long before today, Mr Öcalan called for a resolution to the Kurdish question, and it is essential that everyone stands behind this call. Following his appeal, an agreement was forged in Syria, laying the groundwork for Kurdish unity. We fully support this agreement as a vital step for the Kurdish people to move forward together.”

Fatma Abay, an activist from the Free Women’s Movement (TJA), underscored the global resonance of the women’s struggle:

“Through women’s resistance, the philosophy of ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadî’ (Woman, Life, Freedom) has spread across the world. Today, we celebrate Newroz in honour of Abdullah Öcalan, the Kurdish People’s Leader and the visionary behind this philosophy. We fully embrace Mr Öcalan’s message, particularly his words: ‘The women’s issue runs deeper than the Kurdish issue itself.’ This truth must be understood by all.”

“To build a new era, we must face and dismantle the systemic violence targeting women. Mr Öcalan urges us to take charge of our future, and women must lead this fight,” she added.

The 2025 Newroz celebrations in Turkey’s Kurdistan have ignited immense enthusiasm across all parts of Kurdistan, driven by the imprisoned Kurdish leader’s call for a peaceful resolution to the Kurdish question and an end to the past year’s cycle of violence against Kurds