Tens of thousands of Kurds gathered in Diyarbakir’s Newroz Park to celebrate the annual Kurdish occasion, chanting slogans of "towards freedom with the Newroz fire."
“I call on all the countries around us to release our politicians. Release all our leaders. Allow people to visit them, and allow doctors and lawyers to meet with them,” said Talabani in a video statement played during the event.
Talabani said he hopes the arrival of the New Year brings an end to the ongoing disagreements between Kurdish political parties, urging all sides to unite their efforts and “prioritize the interests of our people ahead of their own interests.”
This year’s Newroz in Diyarbakir was dedicated to the victims of the devastating earthquake that struck Turkey and neighboring Syria in February, killing over 57,000 people. The PUK leader renewed his condolences to the families of the victims.
Kurds celebrate Newroz on March 21-23, with the occasion symbolizing a day of resistance and freedom from tyranny. The celebrations typically involve picnicking in the countryside and lighting bonfires.
Abdullah Ocalan, founder of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), has been serving life sentence in Turkey since 1999.
Selahattin Demirtas, former co-chair of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), has been imprisoned by Turkish authorities since November 2016 for alleged links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) - armed group struggling for the increased rights of Kurds in Turkey. He faces up to 142 years in jail on terror charges.
Ankara has listed the PKK a terrorist organization, and many Turkish officials accuse the HDP of being the political wing of the group - a claim denied by the pro-Kurdish party.
