BERÇEM CÛDÎ

 

Kobanê- The Kurdish people celebrate Newroz on March 21 as a day of unity, resistance, uprising and freedom. For the Kurdish people, Newroz is the day when Kawa the Blacksmith lit the fire of uprising against Assyrian king called Dehak and crowned the uprising with victory. The Kurds have been celebrating Newroz with great enthusiasm against genocidal and assimilation policies against them, particularly for 50 years.

Ayşe Efendi, Co-chair of the Council of Martyrs' Families in the Euphrates region, spoke to NuJINHA about the importance of Newroz for the Kurdish people and the Kurdish struggle.

 Ayşe Efendi: Newroz celebrations in the 80s and 90s were different

 Speaking about why Newroz is important for the Kurdish people, she said, “Newroz symbolizes the birth of the Kurdish people. Kurds express their hopes and dreams on March 21, Newroz for thousands of years. Green, yellow and red are the colors of the Kurdish people. Newroz celebrations in the 80s and 90s were different. Between the 80s and the 90s, the Ba'athist regime tried to prevent us from celebrating Newroz but it failed. I still remember how Arabs prayed for rain so that we wouldn't celebrate Newroz. On March 21, it rains, flowers bloom and every part of Kurdistan turns into a paradise.”

‘We expect a strong participation’

Pointing to the gains achieved by the Kurdish people thanks to their resistance on March 21, Newroz, Ayşe Efendi said, “Newroz is the day when we show how we are determined to have a free life. We have many important days such as March 12 (The massacre and uprising in Qamishlo), April 4 (Birthday of Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan) and July 19 (The start of revolution in Rojava). The Kurdish people express their hopes, wishes and dreams on March 21, Newroz. This year, a devastating earthquake hit Turkey, Kurdistan and Syria, killing thousands of people. For this reason, Newroz celebrations are dedicated to earthquake victims. Newroz celebrations are very important this year because the elections in Northern Kurdistan and Turkey are approaching. We expect a strong participation in Newroz celebrations.”

‘We will light the fire of Newroz by singing the anthem of Ey Reqîb’

Ayşe Efendi concluded her speech saying, “This year, all the oppressed will express their hopes on Newroz. We will light the fire of Newroz by singing the anthem of Ey Reqîb. We will celebrate our freedom with the colors green, red and yellow.”