Newroz Celebrations should unite Kurds from all parties

[Anthea]

Newroz celebrations begin in the mountains of Kurdistan

Newroz celebrations have begun in the mountains of Kurdistan as guerrillas held a ceremony in Medya Defense Zones to welcome the Kurdish new year and spring.

Dozens of guerrillas held a ceremony in Medya Defense Zones to welcome the Kurdish new year Newroz and spring with the participation of People's Defense Headquarters commander Amed Malazgirt, Medya Defense Zones Headquarters Command members Hezil Özgür, Samet Mardin and Dorşin Mahir.

Spaking here, Amed Malazgirt, a commander for People's Defense Headquarters congratulated Newroz for Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan, martyrs, Kurdish and Kurdistan people and their comrades resisting in the dungeons of Turkish colonialism.

Describing Newroz as a culture of resistance in Kurdistan, Malazgirt recalled the celebration of Newroz in 70's and 80's at the cost of arrests and deaths in the face of bans, and Mazlum Doğan lighting the Newroz fire with three matchsticks in the dungeon of Turkish colonialism.

"WE WILL WAGE A GREAT WAR IN 2017 WITH THE SPIRIT OF NEWROZ"

Stressing that the colonialist Turkish state carried out major attacks during the winter months which however remained inconclusive due to popular resistance, Amed Malazgirt said; "It is spring now. Both our friends and enemies should know that we will wage a great war against Turkish colonialism this year with the spirit of Newroz as the Turkish state has decided to break the will of the Kurds by spreading fear across the entire Kurdistan territory."

"WE WILL TARGET BOTH THE AKP AND ITS ECONOMY"

Malazgirt continued with significant warnings; "Especially those serving the state economy in Kurdistan should move themselves away from this circle as we will target both the government and its economy. Those working for the colonialist Turkish state in Kurdistan, constructing buildings and roads for them should avoid taking part in these works for they will become a target for us on the contrary case. Nobody should later say that they have not been warned. The economy of Turkish colonialism in Turkish metropolis will also be targeted by our side."

"KURDISH PEOPLE HAVE RESISTED TILL THE END"

Remarking that the attacks of the Turkish state aimed to break will of Kurdistan people, Amed Malazgirt said; "Some circles engaged in pillaging and betrayal are taking sides with the fascism. Last year, they razed the towns and villages of Kurdistan people to the ground with tanks and artilleries. They mercilessly attacked the Kurdish youth, burned many people of ours in basements. However, there is a truth; the Kurdish people have not retreated in the face of colonialism, they did not take sides with the colonialists and they did not accept betrayal. They did not bow down and they resisted till the end with the Newroz spirit of resistance."

"WE WILL MAKE 2017 A YEAR OF SUCCESS"

Malazgirt underlined that 2017 will witness a war much more violent that the previous year, and continued; "The Interior Minister makes weekly statements to the press and claims 'We have broken the will of Kurdistan people and inflicted heavy blows against them'. This is not true. He will see how the PKK guerrilla will fight, and the friend and foe will witness this. We will not allow them to break the Kurdish will. To this end, we will make 2017 a year of success with the spirit of Newroz."

The Turkish colonialism does its best to ban Newroz for the Kurds and to ignore them. The AKP government is doing everything it can to annihilate the spirit of Newroz. It aims to make the Kurds kneel down by putting them through massacres by utilizing all technical means. However, the Kurdish people wrote an epic of resistance in Sur, Cizre, Nusaybin, Gever and other places. The legendary commander Çiyager proved with his resistance that the end will be magnificent. In spite of the most challenging circumstances, comrades İslam, Rojvan and Beritan carried the Newroz torch to today with an epic resistance of 40 days. Comrade Mehmet Tunç once again manifested the Newroz resistance of Mazlum Doğans against the colonialist Turkish state by pledging that 'We will not bow down at any cost'. Regardless of the highest level of attacks of the enemy, they did never bow down nor took steps backward. They always enhanced the resistance and moved forward. They became hundreds and millions who are celebrating the Newroz today. This reality was created with the spirit of the PKK. If the PKK guerrillas are resisting the Turkish colonialism at the highest level today, this is thanks to the Newroz spirit."

On occasion of Newroz, we congratulate Newroz for Leader Apo, our brave martyrs, Kurdish and Kurdistan people and the comrades resisting in the dungeons of Turkish colonialism. Long live Newroz, Long Live Leader Apo!.”

Following the ceremony, People's Defense Headquarters commander Amed Malazgirt held a meeting with the guerrillas, which ended with halay dance and slogans around the Newroz fire lit in the area.

[Piling]

As usually, weather at Newroz is AWFUL : rain, fog, wind, cold. They had to dance under umbrellas !

[Anthea]

As usually, weather at Newroz is AWFUL : rain, fog, wind, cold. They had to dance under umbrellas !

Lots of Newroz celebrations in UK today and the weather here is lovely

[Anthea]

Kurdish Newroz celebrations kick off in London

The Centre for Kurdish Progress hosts its annual Newroz celebration.


The Centre for Kurdish Progress, a campaigning group established by the well-known Kurdish entrepreneur and activist Ibrahim Dogus, tipped one day to become the first Kurdish Labour MP, held its Newroz event this week at the Commons.

Its voluntary advisory panel includes MPs Jeremy Corbyn, Joan Ryan, Kate Osamor and, for full disclosure, me.

The event, together with regular speaker meetings in parliament, has become an increasingly popular fixture on the political scene and was packed with parliamentarians and members of the Kurdish Diaspora in Britain. Dogus also organises the prestigious National Kebab awards each year to mark its multi-billion pound contribution to the British economy.

Raife Aytek, Director of the CKP, told the audience that "Tonight’s event like all the work of Kurdish Progress is for Kurds from any and all countries, to give them a voice and a platform. It is also to help non-Kurdish British people better understand Kurds and Kurdish issues, and to allow friendships to form between communities."

The CKP announced a variety of awards at its third annual event to prominent Kurds and friends in the UK. Awards for Extraordinary Contribution to the Kurdish Cause went to Baroness Jan Royall for her solidarity with Kobane, and to Conservative MP Jack Lopresti, whom I have accompanied to Kirkuk and Mosul in recent years and who is a stalwart supporter of the Peshmerga.

Jack Lopresti has written that “The Peshmerga powerfully symbolise the unity they need. We visited wounded Peshmerga to thank them for defending their homeland and being our frontline against a force that will turn on us even more if undefeated. Today we remember our war dead but we should also remember the fallen Peshmerga. The Kurds are our friends, and we owe them a huge debt of gratitude.”

Simon Dubbins, head of international affairs at the UNITE union and Stephen Smellie of the Unison union also received the prestigious award. As did Richard Wilding, a photographer and designer working internationally with museums, charities and governments, who specialises in documenting archaeology, architecture and costume in the Middle East. Wilding is Creative Director of Gulan, a UK charity which promotes Kurdish culture, and which will exhibit his photographs in the Commons in May.

Awards for successful business people were taken by Aysel Oldac Enguzekli, who runs an accountancy firm, and Sarbaz Barznji, whose building companies help the Kurdish community in the UK. Male role model of the year went to Professor Deiary Kader, a Consultant Orthopaedic surgeon, whose Newcastle-Gateshead Medical Volunteers takes surgeons and others regularly to the Kurdistan Region to literally put Kurds back on their feet through knee and hip operations that fill the gap in the region's medical service. The female role model was given to Councillor Makbule Gunes for her political work in North London.

Male Student of the Year was Ahmed Saleh, who supports the Kurdish community in Devon while the female award was taken by Nadia Mardan who provides face-to-face legal advice, and backs campaigns for women's rights.

Hussein Zahawy won the art award for his efforts to preserve and promote the music and cultural traditions of the Kurdish people while Della Murad, an image consultant and fashion designer in the UK, won the female award, for various collaborations with top museums and for promoting Kurdish food.

The Social Responsibility Award award went to Dr. Mohammad Tammo, who founded Kurds House in the north of England to support Kurds from Rojava.

Young Entrepreneur of the Year was was Zaynab Alikamal, a manager in the retail industry, who works for the KRG's High Commission of Human Rights and focuses on IDPs and Yazidi women. The male equivalent was taken by Dlair Kadhem, whose business focuses on bringing people and technology together.

Dr Ipek Demir won the female Press and Publication Award for her research on Kurdish and Turkish diasporas in Europe, while Ata Mufty took the male award for work that includes the London Kurdish Film Festival.

High profile guests included the KRG Foreign Minister Falah Mustafa Bakir, the KRG High Representative in London, Karwan Jamal Tahir and a wide range of MPs including Jeremy Corbyn.

http://www.rudaw.net/english/world/16032017

[Anthea]

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[Anthea]

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I have a STRONG objection to the HDP using Newroz as a political platform

[Benny]

Happy Newroz (I don't know if that is the correct way to say it) to you all!

Allt the best wishes/B

[Anthea]

Happy Newroz (I don't know if that is the correct way to say it) to you all!

Allt the best wishes/B

Newroz Piroz Be

Thank you Benny

Newroz = means New Day but is stands for New Year as the spring (vernal) equinox marks the start of the New Year for Kurds and many other nationalities

A very old celebration predating Christianity, Judaism and Islam