ISTANBUL – It was the demand for freedom for PKK Leader Abdullah Ocalan that left its mark on the magnificent Istanbul Newroz, attended by more than 1 million people. Citizens who attended the celebration gave messages: "Those who want to isolate Ocalan and distance him from the Kurds will see by looking at the crowd in the area that they have not succeeded in doing so."

 

Newroz, which is celebrated as a holiday of resistance and freedom with a political content as well as welcoming the arrival of spring, hosts larger and more magnificent celebrations every year. In Istanbul, one of the most important addresses of the celebrations after Amed, Newroz was celebrated yesterday in Yenikapı Square with the participation of more than 1 million people.

 

Citizens flocked to the area from 39 districts of the city from the early hours of the morning for the celebration. Citizens wearing local clothes and shawls and scarves in yellow, red and green colors crowded the area.

 

This year's Newroz, which was celebrated with the motto "Rabe dema azadî û serkeftinê ye" (Now is the time for freedom. Stand up)", was marked by PKK Leader Abdullah Ocalan's demand for freedom and a political solution to the Kurdish issue. The crowd filling the area expressed their demand for freedom for Ocalan and frequently chanted the slogan "Bijî Serok Apo (Long live Leader Apo)" in unison.

 

We handed out our microphone to these citizens who attended the celebration.

 

'WE ARE HERE AGAINST THOSE WHO IGNORE OUR WILL'

 

Canan Kolaç (36), one of the citizens, stated that Newroz was enthusiastic and exciting this year, as in previous years.

 

Stating that Nerwroz Holiday carries a different meaning every year, Kolaç said: “This year, we want the isolation of Abdullah Ocalan to be abolished and the prisoners in prisons to be free. Another reason is that, despite all the oppression and war policies, we want to say 'we are here' against those who ignore our will. They are decreasing what they have by arresting us and throwing us in prison, but we will continue to be in this field by increasing every year. They cannot intimidate us."

 

'WE WANT ABDULLAH OCALAN TO BE FREE'

 

Aysel Kulaç also says that she woke up early in the morning and came here from Sultanbeyli to attend Newroz. Kılıç expressed why she was here with the following words: “Those who want to isolate Abdullah Ocalan and distance him from the Kurds will see by looking at the crowd in the field that they have not succeeded in doing so. We want the isolation imposed on our Leader to be abolished and we want him to be free. We will never give up on this demand. We have been under oppression for 45 years. Anyone who replaced the Kurds would have bowed long ago, but we have never bowed to oppression, and we will not bow down. We are here today with all our enthusiasm and color."

Stating that another thing that makes this year's Newroz important for them is the elections, Kulaç said: "This election is of an importance that reveals the will and power of the Kurds. Our vote will be for the DEM Party." Kulaç invited everyone to stand up for their will on March 31.

 

'KURDS PAID HIGH PRICE WITH THEIR BLOOD AND THEIR LIVES'

 

Rahime Kürkçü (47), who said that she has not missed any Newroz event in the city for 28 years, said: “In the 90s, when the oppression was at its highest, we would celebrate Newroz by burning tires in the streets. The Kurds paid a great price with their blood and lives to celebrate Newroz freely today. That's why we call Newroz fire the fire of freedom and resistance. This year's Newroz is about the isolation and physical freedom of Kurds’ Leader Mr. Abdullah Ocalan. There has been no news from him for three years. They are isolating the Kurds in the person of Abdullah Ocalan. We need to be a voice in prisons to break this isolation. The Newroz area is filled with Kurds demanding this. The Kurds will never bow to oppression. We will continue to fight until our leader is free. Bijî Serok, bijî Newroz, bijî Kurdu û Kurdistan (Long live Leader, Long live Newroz, Long live The Kurds and Kurdistan)”

 

'I WANT PEACE AND JUSTICE'

 

Necla Aktay (44) said: “I came today with my white dress and white scarf. I wanted to be a dove of peace."

Stating that they do not want any mother to cry anymore and they are struggling for this, Aktay said: “Look at the faces here, there are mothers for peace, mothers on duty for justice. They have been demanding peace for their children and for us for years. We also have prisoners. We are in 2024 and we are still under pressure as Newroz arrives. They are afraid of the local dress of a four-year-old child, they are enemies of children, enemies of women, enemies of the existence of the Kurds. We are against hostility. I wish this Newroz to be peace, justice and equality. We will win by resisting."

 

'NEWROZ IS A MESSAGE TO THE GOVERNMENT AND THE DOMINANT POWERS'

 

Ahmet Ece (49), who attended Newroz with his wife, said: “The meaning and importance of Newroz changes every year. This year is described as the Newroz of freedom. The isolation on Mr. Abdullah Ocalan continues. He has not been allowed to see his family and lawyers for three years. Abdullah Ocalan's freedom means the freedom of the Kurds. This glorious Newroz is a message to the government and the ruling powers. I hope they understand this message correctly and respond soon. Because these people want the isolation to be broken and Ocalan's freedom. This is our expectation as well. This isolation will definitely be broken and the Kurds will gain their freedom with their leader." 

 

'THIS NEWROZ IS THE ANSWER TO MARCH 31'

 

Ceylan Turgut, one of the citizens, also hopes that this year's Newroz will bring peace and freedom. Turgut, who wanted the political prisoners in prisons to be free, said: “Thousands of people elected by the votes of the Kurds are currently in prison. The people you elect are thrown into prison, trustees are appointed to our municipalities. No one can usurp our will. The crowd here is also a response to the elections to be held on March 31. Everyone must protect their will."

 

'WE WILL STAND BEHIND OUR CASE'

 

Emine Onal said: “First of all, I would like to congratulate Abdullah Ocalan's Newroz holiday. I want isolation policies to end now. If we don't have leader, we don't exist. There has been no news from Abdullah Ocalan for three years, why can't we hear from him? By what right are lawyers and family members prevented from visiting? This is inhumane, we do not accept it. There has been oppression and hostility towards Kurds for years, our language, our identity, our culture and even the clothes we wear are being treated as hostility. While we have been saying for years that mothers should not cry, we are not just saying this for ourselves. We say that the soldier's mother should not cry, and we say that the guerrilla mother should not cry either. They are our enemies because we say this. Despite everything, we will continue to demand peace and freedom, but even if they insist on war, we will support our cause until the last drop of our blood. This crowd at Newroz is a response to those who pursue a policy of isolation, oppression and cruelty."

 

MA / Esra Solin Dal