Mimihan Helbin Zaidan

Van — Several cities in Turkey, particularly in regions of North Kurdistan, witnessed Nowruz celebrations with broad popular participation, reflecting the people’s attachment to this cultural and historical occasion. Despite security measures and complex political circumstances, thousands gathered to revive the rituals that symbolize freedom and renewal.

The city of Van in North Kurdistan saw Nowruz 2026 celebrations with wide public participation, despite cold weather and rain. This year’s celebrations were marked by notable enthusiasm compared to previous years. However, the absence of tangible practical steps—despite the initiation of a process in response to leader Abdullah Öcalan’s call—was among the most prominent issues raised in discussions.

Participants emphasized their adherence to hope and their belief in the possibility of achieving peace, stressing that ensuring full freedom for leader Abdullah Öcalan constitutes a fundamental demand in the Nowruz celebrations. As wars continue in the Middle East, many believe that the key to resolving the crisis still lies with leader Öcalan.

“People Are Being Oppressed”

Media Mert, a member of the municipal council of Edremit district in Van, North Kurdistan, stressed the need to end the existing regime in Iran, pointing out that the current regime has no justification for waging this war. “The population may be forced to migrate as a result of the ongoing conflict. Women and children should not have to endure this harsh suffering while trying to flee the horrors of war.”

She affirmed her rejection of the oppression faced by civilians, expressing her hope that Nowruz would be an opportunity for the release of leader Öcalan and that this would be a step toward achieving peace in the Middle East.

“We Want Peace and Freedom”

Majda Farhan, a member of the municipal council in the Armush district of Van, celebrated Nowruz and congratulated the Kurdish people on the occasion, expressing her hope that Nowruz would bring peace to all. “We feel deep sorrow over the ongoing war in Iran, where women and children are being killed mercilessly. War cannot achieve any goal, and no one can build their future through violence and bloodshed. We want peace and freedom for all peoples of the Middle East, and we demand an end to the killing of more women and children.”

“Women Are on the Side of Peace”

Evra Jelibolu said, “The victims of wars in Iran and Syria today are women and children. Women have always been on the side of peace, but even those who struggle for peace know how to fight when necessary.”

Despite indescribable suffering, she pointed out that women are the most determined to achieve peace in Iran, Syria, and Turkey, because they want a better future for their children and for the whole world. “Many lives are being wasted, and this bleeding must stop.”

She noted that women and children are the groups most affected by war. “To understand and resolve the ongoing war in the Middle East today, we must listen to the visions of leader Öcalan. In fact, leader Öcalan accurately described the wars of the Middle East years ago, explained how to achieve success, and showed the path toward democracy. In the forced displacement caused by wars today, it is not only homes that are destroyed, but lives are wasted. From this perspective, the solution to the Middle East war lies in the vision of leader Abdullah Öcalan.”