RONÎDA HACÎ

Hasakah- 54 people, mostly women and children, were killed in twin car bomb attacks by ISIS on the Newroz celebrations in the al-Mufti district of Hasakah on March 20, 2015. NuJINHA spoke to Perîhan Ehmed, who lost her 17-year-old son in the attacks.

 “My son loved to celebrate Newroz,” said Perîhan Ehmed. “Every year, he used to light the Newroz fire with his friends to celebrate Newroz. Two explosions occurred during the Newroz celebrations in 2015. 54 people, including my son, were killed. When the explosions occurred, I was at home. I immediately called my son Ciwan when I heard the explosions. I went to the area and saw killed people on the ground. Many people were killed and injured in the attacks. The enemy aims to annihilate us by using such methods but we will never remain silent. We always stand up and pursue our cause.”

 She visits the grave of her son every year

Pointing to the conspiracy plans against the Kurdish people, Perîhan Ehmed said, “Massacres have been committed against the Kurdish people throughout history. The aim of the massacres are to annihilate the Kurdish people. Throughout history, the Kurdish people have always risen up against the oppressive and dictatorial regimes. The Kurdish people have been fighting oppression and cruelty since Kawa the Blacksmith led an uprising against Assyrian tyrant Dehak. We will keep celebrating Newroz even though its price is very heavy. Every year, I visit the grave of my son to tell him, “Rest in peace, the Newroz fire is lit this year again’.”

‘We will light the Newroz fire’

Perîhan Ehmed expressed her condolences to the families of those who were killed in the explosions. “No one can darken our day. The Newroz fire illuminates our lives. We will light the Newroz fire every year because Newroz is a response and resistance against dirty plans, slavery and oppression. We will never bow to dirty plans, slavery and oppression.”