Thousands attend Newroz celebration in London

London celebrated one of the most magnificent Newroz of recent years. Promoted by the Kurdish People’s Assembly, the celebration was attended by more than ten thousand people who flocked London’s Finsbury Park with the slogan “Dem dema Azadiyê”. A giant banner of Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan and Mazlum Doğan and photographs of British fighters from YPG who lost their lives in Rojava were hung on the stage.

Many institutions such as Heyva-Sor, Partizan and MLKP opened information stands in the park. Young people wore T-shirts with pictures of Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan, and wore guerrilla and traditional clothes.

The Newroz celebration started with a minute’s silence in memory of the martyrs of the revolution and democracy.

British Kurdish People’s Assembly co-chairs, Elif Sarıcan and Miraz Serhat, underlined that Newroz expresses resistance and freedom, and added that there will be an all-out struggle for Newroz in 2022 and the physical freedom of Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan.

Koma Zelal took the stage followed by Firaz Dag Children’s Choir. Omid Şerîfî from Rojhilat sang in Kurmancî and Soranî.

Cemevi President Filiz Koç gave a speech on behalf of the Democratic Forces Union, which includes many institutions from Kurdistan and Turkey. Expressing that Newroz is a symbol of resistance, Koç underlined the common struggle against fascism.

The British Representative of the Syrian Democratic Council, Mesud Kasu, said that the Turkish state carries out a policy of genocide not only against the Kurds of Turkey, but also against the Kurds of Rojava, Bashur and Rojhilat.

Heval Agit, who made a speech on behalf of TCŞ, said that the Kurdish youths will fight until they ensure the physical freedom of Leader Öcalan.

The MLKP wished that 2022 Newroz would be a day when the isolation against Öcalan and all revolutionary prisoners would be lifted.

Keir Starmer, the leader of the main opposition Labour Party in England, stated that the Kurdish people are discriminated against because of their national identity and face oppression and violence, and that Newroz will bring democracy, prosperity and peace to Kurdistan and the Middle East. wished.

Songs by Hozan Canê

Hozan Canê warmed the crowd when she sang for Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan.

Haringey Mayor Peray Ahmed and council members greeted the people celebrating Newroz.

Baydemir: The AKP plan failed

Kurdish politician Osman Baydemir said that the Kurds need national unity and added: “We have to recognize our friends and enemies. Today, they forced us to have hundreds of thousands of Kurds refugees in Afrin. The reason for this is Ankara. Those who want peace in Ukraine are waging war in Kurdistan. This is hypocrisy. The unity of the Kurds against fascism and occupation is essential. The Turkish state’s plan to overthrow the Kurds, was collapsed by the millions who took to the streets in Newroz. When the gates of Imrali are opened, peace will be achieved through negotiations.”

Corbyn: The way to peace is Öcalan’s freedom

Former Labour Party Leader, deputy Jeremy Corbyn, described his visit to Amed in 2008, and said that the struggle of the Kurdish people for their identity, language and culture was met with great violence by the Turkish state. Corbyn called for freedom for Abdullah Öcalan, the Kurdish leader and ‘Mandela of the Middle East’.

After the speeches, artist Ferhat Tunç took the stage. Explaining that they were in exile because they were fighting against fascism, Tunç underlined that they would not back down from the struggle.

Artist and rapper Serhado closed the celebrations.

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