This year's Newroz celebrations in Rojhilat were both splendid and enthusiastic. Although the official celebration calendar is between 1 March and 1 April, the people of Rojhilat (East Kurdistan-Iran) started the Newroz celebrations on 19 February and ended them on 13 April. This year, all celebrations in the region were splendid. The slogan of Rojhilat people's Newroz celebrations was peace and national unity. Sipan Welat and Rasûl Galeban, journalists working in the region, evaluated the Newroz celebrations in Rojhilat for Mezopotamya Agency (MA).

 

ROJHILAT NEWROZ

 

Emphasising that the Newroz celebrations in Rojhilat were glorious, journalist Sihan Welat stated that the celebrations were held in all cities from Ilam to Maku in Eastern Kurdistan. Welat emphasised that Newroz is the resistance of the Kurdish people against the invaders and oppression and said, "I think that two issues have greatly influenced the Newroz celebrations in Eastern Kurdistan this year: Firstly, Leader Apo's historic call and hopes for a solution to the Kurdish question in Northern Kurdistan. Secondly, the latest developments in Rojava and the hopes for Kurdish rights in Kurdistan and Syria. These two issues have had a significant impact on the Kurdish people and political parties, making them attach more importance to Kurdish unity and solidarity."

 

Welat reminded that there were efforts to prevent Newroz celebrations in some cities and said, "The Iranian regime uses the policy of dividing the peoples into different parties and groups. In the city of Urmia, where various communities such as Kurds, Azerbaijanis, Armenians and Assyrians live, the Iranian regime tried to exclude Kurds through social and ethnic fragmentation. But the Kurds, as a united people, demonstrated that they believe in the peaceful coexistence of peoples and that they will continue their resistance against the invaders under all circumstances."

 

WOMEN LED THE WAY

 

Welat said that women were more visible in the celebrations this year and added: "This year women took a leading role in the Newroz celebrations in Kurdistan and all over the world, especially in Eastern Kurdistan. In recent years, with the 'jin, jiyan, azadî (Woman, life, freedom)' revolution in Eastern Kurdistan and the spread of Leader Apo's ideas, the role of women has changed and women have become the leaders of resistance and war. Although Iran's ancient, patriarchal society and radical regime opposed women's participation, as I said, the role of women has increased in recent years as a result of social awareness and the spread of ideas of freedom and equality. I personally participated in many Newroz celebrations from Ilam to Urmia, and for me the role of women symbolised the hope of freedom and liberation for society. Message to the occupiers was 'A free woman is a free society'."

 

ÖCALAN'S CALL ALSO AFFECTED IRAN

 

Welat said that Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan's message has found a response in Rojhilat and stressed: "As I have stated before, Leader Apo's historic call had a great repercussion. As a matter of fact, the publication of his photographs and Leader Apo's efforts to solve the Kurdish question through dialogue and to move away from war have given a new horizon to the people of Eastern Kurdistan. My hope is that one day the Kurdish people in all four parts of Kurdistan will celebrate Newroz together."

 

'CELEBRATIONS ARE A RESPONSE TO KURDISH DENIAL'

 

Emphasising that Newroz means unity and solidarity for the Kurdish people, journalist Rasûl Galeban stated that Newroz has been celebrated more enthusiastically in Rojhilat in the last 2-3 years and said, "The role of young people in this is important. Newroz was celebrated with more than 150 thousand people for the first time in Urmia, which was a first in the history of Urmia. The eyes of the whole Rojhilat were on Urmia and celebrating Newroz there is very important for the people of Rojhilat. Newroz unites all segments, even if the Kurdish people have different religious beliefs and political views, everyone in Rojhilat is united on Newroz. This unity of the people will be an example for political parties. I hope the parties can act together without further divergence on Kurdish and Kurdistan issues."

 

Galeban said that the people embraced Newroz en masse and added, "Newroz celebrations were not banned, but there were minor problems in some regions. For example, Ûrmiye, this is a strategic region where Kurds and Turks have been living together for years. In recent years, Turks have been in the administration of Ûrmiye and they deny the Kurdish existence. The authorities had decided that this year's celebrations would not be mass and would be celebrated on a single day, but our people rejected this decision and decided to celebrate together in the usual place.  There was a mass celebration and at least 150,000-200,000 people participated, which was very important for us because it was a very good response to those who have been denying the Kurdish existence for decades. After this celebration, the Kurdish presence in Urmia was discussed all the way to Tehran."

 

WOMEN BROKE THE BANS

 

Reminding that according to Iranian law, it is forbidden for women and men to dance the halay together, Galeban said, "But our people broke this in Newroz. Women have been ignoring these understandings that ignore the existence of women for 2-3 years and take their place everywhere. Previously, a few women used to participate in Newroz celebrations, and they were careful not to attract attention, some of them would cover their faces. But women destroyed this centuries-old mentality after the 'Jin, jiyan, azadî' protests."

 

Galeban said, "The message of the whole newroz was peace, the people of Rojhilat are a divided people, the war here is no longer fought with weapons but with pens. For years we have been fighting for our existence with our pens. Serok (Leader) Apo's message also positively affected the parties in Rojhilat. We see this, this year the parties in Rojhilat also issued messages of peace and democracy."

 

MA / Berivan Kutlu