Amed - Hundreds of thousands flocked to the Newroz Park, located in the Bağlar district of Amed (Turkish: Diyarbakır), to attend the Newroz 2022 Celebration held with the motto, “Now is the time to succeed”. Many politicians, journalists, intellectuals, and academics from the Middle East and European countries attended the celebration.

Police didn’t allow people to enter the square

People came to Newroz Park in the early morning to celebrate Newroz. However, police prevented people from entering the celebration square. Thereupon, 200 riot police were placed in front of the stage after young people overcame the police barricades. People protested the presence of riot police in front of the stage by shouting slogans. Ayşe Acar Başaran, spokesperson of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Women’s Council, reacted to the police prevention and said, “No one can stand against the will of the people of Amed. No one can prevent us from celebrating Newroz.”

“The isolation should be ended”

We spoke to women attending the celebration despite all obstacles. It was worth seeing the enthusiasm of the women attending the celebration with their colorful national dresses. Özlem Yılmaz was one of these women. “For us, Newroz means the beginning of spring, a symbol of freedom and peace. Today, thousands are flocking to the square to demand freedom and peace. I wish a happy Newroz to the Kurdish people. All prisoners should be released from prison. This isolation should be ended. We come here every year and we will continue to come here,” she told us.

“We demand our freedom”

“Newroz is an important feast for the Kurdish people. Every year, we welcome this day, which is a sacred day for the Kurdish people, with great enthusiasm. We condemn the oppression against the Kurdish people and we demand our freedom. We are here to fuel the fire of struggle. We will continue to keep this feast and struggle alive with enthusiasm,” Fatma Timur, another woman attending the celebration, told us.

“Newroz means hope”

Noting that Newroz is the arrival of spring, Feride Yıldırım said, “Newroz means spring, excitement, peace, and hope. We flock to the Newroz square every year. We managed to enter the Newroz square despite all the obstacles and we will celebrate Newroz with enthusiasm.”

“We will not remain silent”

“Newroz is a special day and holiday for the Kurdish people, we are excited, we are enthusiastic, and this excitement and enthusiasm will grow with the fire of Newroz. We will welcome spring with this enthusiasm and excitement. We have kept this excitement and struggle alive from Kawa the Blacksmith to today. I wish a happy Newroz to the Kurdish people. The attacks and oppression against us should end. We will not give up. We will not remain silent,” Bışeh Ülker said.