Newroz Piroz Be 2721

[Anthea]

Police attack people joining
Newroz celebration in Cizre

Turkish police used tear gas against a Newroz celebration in the Cizre district of Şırnak. Despite the attack, tens of thousands of people celebrated their New Year

Turkish police fired tear gas at a Newroz celebration in Cizre. There were tens of thousands of people on and in front of the square, who had arrived early in the morning in traditional dress and were dancing. Lines formed for miles in front of the police checkpoints at the entrance to the site. Crowds chanted slogans such as "Bijî Serok Apo" [Long Live Leader Öcalan] and "The PKK is the people and the people are here!"

When tear gas was fired at the crowd, the people tore down part of the police barrier. Despite the attack, an enthusiastic Newroz celebration took place.

[Anthea]

Peace in Kurdistan Campaign
greets Kurds on Newroz

Peace in Kurdistan "extended its good wishes and support to Kurds everywhere, to those who enjoy a semblance of safety and security many far from their homeland, but to all those more who exist in precarious circumstances, under persistent threat or who have their freedom stolen from them

Newroz is traditionally the major date in the annual Kurdish calendar since ancient times. It is an occasion for joining together in a collective expression of hope, goodwill and looking forward with anticipation of what is to come.

Newroz celebrations are held in the home and in public spaces, in the town squares and in the mountains, across Kurdistan and wherever Kurdish communities have made their dwelling place."

Peace in Kurdistan reminds that "Newroz is about celebrating Kurdish national identity and the people seizing hold of their destiny, as a means of affirming strength and belief in their own innate powers to shape their own future

In recent times, Newroz has inevitably become transformed into a focal point for the political struggle and the necessity of resistance. The Turkish state has sought to clampdown on social activities, including cultural events, during Newroz and has savagely repressed peaceful gatherings in Kurdish areas."

Peace in Kurdistan added: "The spirit of human resilience and resistance demonstrated by the Kurds throughout their history and in contemporary times finds expression in this ancient festival, now an official holiday in parts of Kurdistan.

The fires of Newroz shed light in the darkness and reignite the resolve of the Kurds to win their freedom and secure justice for their people.

On Newroz, Peace in Kurdistan reaffirms its pledge to work for the freedom of all Kurds, for the release of all political prisoners, for the rights of Kurdish political organisation and for the lifting of the threat to ban, imprison and criminalise legitimate rights and social activities."

Peace in Kurdistan finally reminds that "on previous years, Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan has made Newroz the occasion for issuing and repeating his call for peace and reconciliation.

On Newroz 2021 we are obliged to reaffirm the demand of freedom for Ocalan, peace for Kurdistan."

Now is the time to step up the demands for Ocalan’s release and for a renewed effort to broker a lasting peace.

We also remember the sacrifices made by countless men and women in the Kurdish freedom movement; we honour the martyrs who made the ultimate sacrifice in giving their lives, but who live on in public memory.

Newroz is a celebration of past struggles and an expression of expectation in the future.

Peace in Kurdistan stands with the Kurds as they mark Newroz and looks forward to a time soon when all Kurds and their friends can celebrate together in freedom without fear or threat of retribution. A future of hope and freedom is within our grasp.

[Anthea]

Peshmerga visit Eastern
Kurdistan for Newroz

Armed Peshmerga fighters from the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI) joined Newroz celebrations in various Kurdish areas in western Iran, according to social media posts and statements from the KDPI

Video footage shared to the KDPI’s official Twitter account showed several Peshmerga fighters armed with AK-47s joining Newroz celebrations in the city of Baneh in Iran’s Kurdistan province and Oshnavieh in West Azerbaijan Province. The videos had gone viral on social media over the weekend.

KDPI Peshmerga “celebrated Newroz united, especially in Oshnavieh, Ilam, Baneh and Niyar village,” read a statement released to the KDPI’s website.

The KDPI is a Kurdish party which has waged an on-and-off armed war against the Iranian government since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. It is based in the Kurdistan Region – with Iran shelling areas in the Kurdistan Region on the pretense of targeting the group.

It is not the first time its forces have crossed the border.

In 2018, KDPI Peshmerga forces entered Oshnavieh and held several activities in the town, including meeting locals.

While there has been no official reaction from the Iranian government, Kurdistan Province's top security official said that visitors to the province must leave due to the rise in coronavirus cases.

“Based on the announcement from the national corona task force, those who have travelled to orange cities including Saqez and Baneh must leave these cities within 72 hours, otherwise they will be dealt with according to the law,” said Mohammad Ebrahim Zarei the deputy governor of Kurdistan province for political, social and security issues in an interview with the semi-official Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA) on Monday.

Iran was divided into colour-coded areas as it was hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic last year. The country is divided into white, orange, and red areas based on the number of infections and deaths.

In an interview with Rudaw’s Jaafar Mubasher in December, KDPI leader Mustafa Hijri said that they work for the “Kurdish people in Rojhelat”, referring to Iran’s Kurdish areas.

“Rasan will continue with its activities and I hope we get better opportunities to enrich our efforts in all different aspects,” Hijri said, referring to Rasan – a project to increase the KDPI's political and military presence in Iranian Kurdistan.

https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iran/220320212