Organized by Sanatça under the leadership of the Amed Metropolitan Municipality and the Peyas (Kayapınar) Municipality, the Koma Amed concert, held for the first time in 30 years, has started, as Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reported.
A banner reading “Kulîlkên Azadiyê Pêşwaziya Aştiya Civakî Dikin” (The Flowers of Freedom Welcome Social Peace) was hung on the stage set up in Newroz Square. Citizens of all ages, from 7 to 70, attended the concert, carrying signs with Koma Amed lyrics such as “Berî her tiştî Kurdîm” (Before anything else, I am Kurdish) and “Jiyan bi Kurdî xweş e” (Life is beautiful in Kurdish), as well as a poster of Koma Amed’s founder Evdilmelik Şêx Bekir.
The Amedspor flag, featuring the words from Koma Amed’s first and iconic song “Tu kulîlka azadî yê, strana welatê me yî” (You are the flower of freedom, the song of our land), was also displayed. Thousands arrived from cities across Kurdistan and Turkey, some in traditional dress. The crowd, chanting “Be Serok jiyan nabe” (There is no life without the Leader), “Jin, jiyan, azadî” (Woman, life, freedom), and “Bijî Serok Apo” (Long live Leader Abdullah Öcalan), waited eagerly for Koma Amed to take the stage, dancing in circles to music and applause.
Video message from artists
The event opened with video messages from artists Şivan Perwer, Hesen Şerif, Hozan Şemdin, Xelîl Xemgîn, İlkay Akkaya, Hozan Dilovan, and Gülîstan Perwer. Messages from imprisoned politician Selçuk Mızraklı, who suggested the name “Koma Amed”, and former HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş were also played.
Mayors meet Koma Amed
Amed Metropolitan co-mayors Serra Bucak and Doğan Hatun, along with Peyas co-mayors Berivan Gülşen Sincar and Cengiz Dündar, took the stage to greet the people. In her speech, Serra Bucak said that Koma Amed had “returned home, to its land and people, after 30 years.” She continued: “This longing ends tonight in this square. The 30-year longing for Koma Amed is ending. Let the longing of the Kurdish people and our precious mothers for peace, democracy, and unity also end. May the Kurdish people and all peoples live in peace and harmony. May this concert serve as a step toward fulfilling the Kurdish people’s aspirations.”
We believe in leader Öcalan
Democratic Regions Party (DBP) co-chair Keskin Bayındır then took the stage, noting that some of their friends who had regained freedom after 30 years were present. He continued: “Among us is the family of Rojin Kabaiş. Greetings to them. We send our greetings to all political prisoners throughout Selçuk Mızraklı, for their struggle, their resistance, their leadership. And our greatest and most passionate greetings, from the four parts of Kurdistan and from Turkey, go to the Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan. Thousands of greetings from Amed.”
Bayındır added: “Koma Amed’s work and struggle are the story of the Kurdish people. Every day, every month, every year, 30 years have passed, and now they stand with us in the capital of our homeland. Let this be the greatest response to the system: even after 30 or 300 years, the Kurdish struggle stands. The people of Kurdistan are on their feet and will continue their struggle. The return of Koma Amed marks a beginning. We are hopeful that with our struggle, we will see our other friends here too. We will hold concerts for imprisoned friends and those in the diaspora. We are hopeful, we are strong. We will welcome the Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan here in Amed, the capital of Kurdistan. The Kurdish people, the people of Kurdistan, and the friends of this struggle are giving great support to the Peace and Democratic Society Process. We believe in Leader Apo. We believe in the Kurdish people’s struggle. We believe in our people who have struggled for 50 years; this process will succeed. Even if the state does not support it, with Mr. Öcalan’s struggle, the Kurdish people will be free and achieve constitutional status. We believe this and will continue our struggle in every arena.”
Our goal is freedom
Bayındır continued: “Tomorrow, the eyes of the Kurdish people will be on the television. After the announcement, the state must take steps in this process. The Kurdish people, the people of Kurdistan, want freedom; they want this process to succeed. This people trust their Leader and his struggle — but the state’s stance remains unclear. We will make that stance clear. Our goal is freedom, law, and justice. And our top priority is the freedom of the Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan, because his freedom is the people’s freedom. We will continue our struggle until freedom is achieved.”
After his speech, a call for justice for Rojin Kabaiş was made. Then Koma Amed took the stage to roaring applause, greeting the crowd one by one before beginning their long-awaited concert.