Amed Newroz is being celebrated with the slogan "Rêbertiya Azad Civaka Demokratîk (Free Leader, Democratic Society)" in Newroz Park in Rezan (Bağlar) district. Hundreds of people are witnessing the historic Amed (Diyarbakır) Newroz as guests on the platform created for political parties, civil society organisations, academics, journalists and writers.

 

Representatives of political parties taking part in the platform evaluated both the Amed Newroz and the message sent by Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan on 27 February.

 

 

Seyit Aslan, Chair of the Labour Party (EMEP), wished that the 2025 Amed Newroz would bring peace, equality and democracy to all Kurdish-Turkish people and the peoples of the Middle East. Pointing out that today is a day when hundreds of thousands of people will shout for equality, brotherhood and peace, Aslan said: "As a party, we have always been together in the Kurdish people's struggle for equality and freedom for years. Today, we want Amed Newroz to be a day for the declaration announced on 27 February to come to life, to open the doors to peace and equality, to lift the isolation, to silence the weapons in the Middle East, to stop the operations and to release political prisoners."

 

'THE GOVERNMENT MUST RESPOND TO THE CALL'

 

Stating that they find Abdullah Öcalan's call very important, Aslan emphasised that the call prepares the ground for how the Kurdish issue will be solved, how democratisation will be achieved, how the weapons will be silenced and all problems will discussed in a democratic way. Aslan said, "This door opened by the Kurdish movement must be responded to by the government and the state in an accelerated manner. The government, the president, all political parties inside and outside the parliament, including the main opposition, professional organisations, democratic institutions, all of them must act as the owner and responsible for this process and they must protect this process."

 

'FREEDOM OF ABDULLAH ÖCALAN MUST BE ENSURED'

 

 

 

Socialist Refoundation Party (SYKP) Co-chair Mertcan Titiz said, "We are here on a historic Newroz. After Mr Öcalan's 'Call for Peace and Democratic Society', millions of people will respond to Mr Öcalan's call from here with all their hearts. How it resonates with the people and how important it is will be shown as a reflex to the whole world today. The Kurdish people will show first Turkey, then the Middle East and the whole world how sincere and determined they are in their struggle for peace. As SYKP, we are honoured to be a part of this".

 

Pointing out that Abdullah Öcalan's call has released an energy in the country, the region and the world, Titiz added, "However, no concrete steps have been taken by the state yet. First and foremost, in order for Mr Abdullah Öcalan to be more active in this process, his working and living conditions must be improved in order for the formula he ahs proposed to be realised. His physical freedom must be ensured. We will see here today that the Kurdish people are ready for peace. The state needs to take the steps it has set before it as soon as possible."

 

'THE CALL IS IMPORTANT FOR THE UNITY OF TURKEY'

 

 

 

Aydın Altaç, member of the executive committee of the Future Party, wished that Newroz would lead to peace and tranquility in the Middle East and underlined that Abdullah Öcalan's call is very important for both the region and for the peace and unity of Turkey. Altaç said, "We hope that this call will be fulfilled as soon as possible and peace will come to our region. In order for this call to be fulfilled, the state must tkae a step in the law and constitution. The PKK should also fulfil whatever is necessary in line with Mr Öcalan's call. This is how the Kurdish problem will be solved. Civil organisations are very important in this process. We, as all Turkish parties and civil organisations, will help to solve this problem. We must emphasise this issue with all our strength so that there will never be unrest in this country again."

 

'THE ASSURANCE OF KURD IDENTITY IS AN ACHIEVEMENT'

 

 

 

Saadet Party Amed Provincial Chair Abdurrahman Ergin said, "Newroz in Amed is actually a square where the people and society express the most demand for peace. The Kurdish issue is one of the most important issues that Turkey needs to resolve. When this issue is resolved, there will be peace and tranquility in the country. The resolution of Kurdish issue will pave the way for Turkey. Everyone is waiting for the days when our people will live in peace. It will pave the way for an environment where there are no weapons, no conflict, the way for politics is opened, the demands of the Kurdish people are fulfilled, and solution proposals are presented in the parliament to find a solution. We want the injustices and grievances they have suffered to be eliminated. To pave the way for freedom of opinion and thought and to ensure justice. Our people want to see themselves in the constitution. The constitutional guarantee of the Kurdish identity, the widespread use of the Kurdish language in society and the paving the way for this is a general achievement for Turkey. We want this to be paved the way."

 

MA / Rukiye Payiz Adıgüzel