Under the leadership of Peoples' Equality and Democratic (DEM) Party, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) and Free Woman Movement (Tevgera Jinên Azad-TJA), a celebration was held in the Newroz Area in Silopi district of Şirnex (Şırnak). Women, youth and children who participated in the celebration with their local clothes flocked to the area early in the morning.

 

Everyone from 7 to 70 people participated in the Newroz celebration and the young people chanted "Bijî Serok Apo (Long live Leader Apo)" slogans while dancing. Despite frequent interventions and warnings of the police, the Newroz area echoed with the slogan "Bijî Serok Apo" throughout the day.

 

The celebration started with a moment of silence in memory of those who lost their lives in the struggle for democracy. Members of the Peace Mothers' Assembly took the stage and flew doves, the symbol of freedom, into the sky, wishing that this year's Newroz would be instrumental for peace and freedom.

 

TJA member Ayşegül Ayaz pointed to the historic call made by Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan and said that it was a manifesto for a new life in the 21st century. Ayşegül Ayaz said, "We must embrace this call and struggle more. When women remain unorganized, they are locked up at home, murdered and subjected to violence. Women's freedom is the freedom of society. Therefore, we need to struggle more. We will build a democratic society with the struggle of women."

 

Şirnex MPs Newroz Uysal Aslan and Mehmet Zeki Irmez also emphasised the historic call of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan in their speeched and said that the struggle of the Kurdish people will succeed with a great achievement. 

 

DEM Party Spokesperson Ayşegül Doğan stated that the struggle of the Kurdish people laid the foundations for the construction of a new life and added, "You are defending Mr Abdulalh Öcalan. Botan (A region in Turkey Kurdistan) is ready, Botan says brotherhood and a permanent solution. This Newroz is the step of a new life."

 

Emphasising that everyone who defends peace and the common life of peoples must embrace this process, Ayşegül Doğan said, "We want mothers to stop shedding tears, Turkish and Kurdish youth to stop dying, rejection, annihilation and denial to end, and everyone to live freely in their lands. We all need to protect the process with responsibility."

 

After the speeches, Peace Mothers lit the Newroz fire. Then artists Murat Dmeir and Eyşe Şan music group took the stage.