Newroz Celebrated in İstanbul

* Photographs and videos: Evrim Kepenek - bianet

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

With the slogan "We will definitely win and break the isolation" and under the leadership of Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), Newroz was celebrated at the Bakırköy Open-Air Marketplace in İstanbul yesterday (March 24).

While 15 thousand police officers were on duty for Newroz celebrations as of 8 a.m., they started to allow groups into the marketplace after searching people at three different checkpoints as of 11 a.m.

Newroz celebrations started at 12 p.m. as it was planned.

Among the ones who attended the celebrations were HDP Co-Chair Pervin Buldan, Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK) Co-Spokesperson Sedat Şenoğlu, Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) Deputy Chair Özlem Gümüştaş, Labor Party of Turkey (TİP) İstanbul MP Erkan Baş, HDP MPs Saruhan Oluç, Hüda Kaya, Oya Ersoy, HDP provincial and district executives, Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK) Chair Arzu Çerkezoğlu, Confederation of Public Employees Trade Unions (KESK) Co-Chair Mehmet Bozgeyik as well as Peace Mothers.

Before and during the celebrations, people chanted the slogans, "President Selo [Selahattin Demirtaş]", "We will win by resisting" and "[Hunger striker HDP MP] Leyla Güven is our honor" and performed folk dances.

In the marketplace where the celebrations took place, there were banners "We lay claim to our will, we go to the polls" and "Cast your vote." There were also placards of "Newroz pîroz be" and flags in yellow, red and green.

Newroz fire lighted

At around 1.30 p.m., the mayor candidates of the HDP and chairs of its constituent parties took the stage and saluted people. 

Afterwards, the Newroz fire was lighted with the participation of Peace Mothers and politicians.

After the fire was lighted, the joint statement prepared by the Newroz Committee in Turkish and Kurdish was read out.

The highlights from the statement were as follows:

"Millions have poured in and are still pouring in the Newroz 2019, which we organized with the slogan 'We will definitely win and break the isolation.' Thousands of people who have gathered here today are each becoming a determined flag in the struggle against the fascism of the AKP-MHP (ruling Justice and Development Party and Nationalist Movement Party).

"The fascism of AKP-MHP has been increasingly intensifying its oppression since 2015. It is appointing trustees to our municipalities, arresting our elected MPs, attacking the workers who decide to strike for their rights, violently assaulting the women who took to the streets on March 8 and, moreover, setting fascist herds against us by manipulating the anger of the women whistling police officers and lying that they whistled the call to prayer, it is opening the nature to unearned income...

"This struggle is waged by the oppressed people and laborers against the siege and isolation imposed on people by the fascism of AKP-MHP and it is for this very reason that we will break down the walls of isolation all together. We will tear the black curtain of fascism.

"Let's exclaim one more time together: An Azadî An Azadî! Either freedom or freedom! Happy Newroz to you all! Newroz Pîroz Be!"

Message of hunger striker prisoners read out

After the joint statement of the Newroz Committee, the message of hunger striker prisoners was also read out.

In their message, prisoners demanded that the isolation on Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) imprisoned leader Abdullah Öcalan be lifted.

Making a statement during the celebration, HDK Co-Chair Sedat Şenoğlu also said that people would break the isolation with the big march that they started in Newroz and would give an answer to the the oppressors.

Pervin Buldan: Who loses İstanbul will also lose Turkey

HDP Co-Chair Pervin Buldan also addressed the Newroz celebrators in Bakırköy. Some of the highlights from her speech were as follows:

"Our beloved people, I am making a promise to you in front of millions, we will create the country of freedom in the dreams of Berkins [Elvan], Ali İsmails [Korkmaz] and Kemal Korkuts just to spite the fascism.

"We, as the oppressed, as the women who are killed everyday in this country, as the young people who are dead and buried, we will definitely give a big lesson on March 31 [local elections] for our freedom and for our future.

"Today, Leyla Güven has laid her body to hunger strike for 137 days. She has laid her body to hunger strike so that peace, law and justice could come to this country. Today, hundreds of people have laid their bodies to hunger strike in prisons and several parts of the world with her.

"For the last three days, instead of laying their bodies to hunger strike in prison, Ayten Beçet and Zehra Sağlam committed suicide.

"They did not even allow them to be properly buried.

"[Referring to local elections] Who loses in İstanbul will also lose Turkey. The ones who gain an unearned income in an environment where the 3rd [İstanbul] Airport workers are struggling with bedbugs, the ones who pulled out the lungs of İstanbul by destroying forests when constructing airports will receive the necessary answer with the votes of Peoples' Democratic Party. We are the key political party in Turkey. I am not giving you any names. What I am saying is the Union of Democratic Forces.

"Don't think that 'Where a single vote would go.' It would go to [HDP's imprisoned former Co-Chairs] Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ."

After statements, songs and concerts, the crowd who gathered at Bakırköy Open-Air Marketplace started to disperse as of 5 p.m.

(HA-PT-EMK/SD)