In the province of Amed (tr. Diyarbakır), the Newroz declaration for the 2026 celebrations has been presented. The declaration calls for intensifying the struggle for freedom, democracy, and equality, and for further strengthening Kurdish unity. This year’s celebrations are being held under the slogans “Newroza Azadî û Yekîtiya Demokratîk” (Newroz of Freedom and Democratic Unity)” Events are planned in at least 53 cities and regions.
The declaration was read out in Sümer Park in the presence of numerous representatives of political parties and civil society organizations. Among the participants were the co-chairs of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP), Çiğdem Kılıçgün Uçar and Keskin Bayındır; the co-chair of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), Tuncer Bakırhan; and the co-spokesperson of the Initiative for Democratic Unity, Mehmet Kamaç.
The declaration, read out by Fatma Ablay from the Free Women’s Movement (TJA), reads as follows:
“In a period where systemic chaos is deepening, hegemonic powers are making new redesign plans in the Middle East and seek to maintain the century-old nation-state status quo based on the denial of our people and the fragmentation of our country. Against the achievements that the Kurdish people have gained through great sacrifices, new policies of denial and plans of destruction are being put into effect, as can be seen in Rojava Kurdistan as well. In response to these policies, the Kurdish people have rallied around the achievements in Rojava and across Kurdistan, globalizing their tradition of resistance through the struggle they continue with their friends in every corner of the world and demonstrating their determination to defend their historical rights.
The lasting success of this struggle and the protection of its gains become stronger with the strengthening of national unity; a common political stance, a shared sense of defense and a common vision for the future are developing as the organized expression of national unity. As national unity strengthens, the democratic achievements of the people are placed on a firmer foundation.
Newroz has become a political consciousness
At such a time, when regional and global developments are intensifying, we welcome Newroz 2026 with the slogan ‘Newroza Azadî û Yekîtiya Demokratîk’ (Newroz of Freedom and Democratic Unity). For the Kurdish people, Newroz is a historical uprising against oppression, an assertion of existence against denial, resistance against repression and the fire of freedom against slavery.
The Kurdish people—whose identity has been denied, whose language has been banned and whose will has been sought to be usurped—have preserved their historical memory, expanded their resistance and sustained their march for freedom by organizing around the Newroz fire, armed with their cultural and social heritage. Newroz has become a political consciousness that connects the accumulated resistance of the past with the struggle of today and strengthens the will to build the free life of the future.
Every fire lit in the Newroz squares will strengthen the will of our resilient people and, by reinforcing our unity, will stand as a sign of determination to defend our common future. The Newroz grounds will once again witness our people raising their demands for freedom, organizing their will and reaffirming their determination to build a democratic future. The historical legacy of Newroz will illuminate our struggle, and the culture of resistance formed over centuries will come alive again as the fundamental force protecting the existence of our people. This historical march will become stronger with the strengthening of national unity; the achievements will be protected through the organized will of national unity and carried more powerfully into the future.
Legal and constitutional arrangements must be enacted urgently
The historic Peace and Democratic Society Process initiated by Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan on 27 February 2025 has completed its first year. Abdullah Öcalan and his movement have fulfilled the political steps required of them for the progress of the process. During this period, the Kurdish people have supported the development of democratic transformation by standing behind their political will.
Following Mr. Öcalan’s historic call, the steps taken by his movement have strengthened the will to establish an equal and shared life among peoples and, by growing in the squares with the organized power of the people, have revealed the potential to produce political outcomes.
Although the establishment of a Commission within parliament by the state during this process was significant, the final report that was announced fell far short of meeting the expectations of the Kurdish people, the oppressed and the democratic public, as well as the minimum conditions for a solution. The fact that the Kurdish question was not even named was unfortunate, demonstrating that parliament and politics—institutions responsible for resolving problems—failed to show the necessary courage and avoided taking responsibility for resolving the Kurdish question.
Despite all its shortcomings, it has become essential that the proposals concerning democratization in the parliamentary commission’s report be implemented as soon as possible and that the necessary legal and constitutional arrangements appropriate for the second phase of the process be urgently enacted.
The chief negotiator must be granted free working conditions
For the development of a democratic resolution and the permanence of peace, ensuring the physical freedom of Mr. Öcalan—who is the chief negotiator—within the framework of the principle of hope, as well as guaranteeing free working conditions for him, has become a historical and political necessity. On this basis, as we welcome Newroz, we will take on the responsibility of expanding the struggle for freedom within the Peace and Democratic Society Process more strongly and advance the goal of a democratic society with greater determination.
The demand of peoples, faith communities, workers and youth for an equal and just life is growing through organized struggle, and women stand at the forefront of this march. The will for women’s freedom embodied in the resistance of Rahşan, Ronahî, Zekiye and Bêrivan today becomes the slogan of women’s freedom across the world with the philosophy of ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadî’ (Woman, Life, Freedom), universalizing itself even in a braid of hair and heralding a new life for humanity. This struggle rising against male domination, war policies and the misogynistic system will gather in the Newroz squares as the constructive and founding power of democratic society.
Call to expand the struggle for unity, freedom, democracy and equality
The free youth—another pioneering force in the construction of the democratic nation—are strengthening their place on the stage as a historical will of struggle that carries the tradition of resistance, transmits the ‘spirit of staying young’ from generation to generation and expands the energy of the march for freedom. As the dynamic force of the struggle against denial, assimilation and policies of identity erasure, youth defend the values of communal life, develop the ideal of a free life and pioneer the construction of a democratic society through the new paths they open in thought, organization and action.
At such a time, Newroz 2026 is welcomed in a historic process in which resistance is growing, the demand for freedom is expanding and the struggle for a democratic society is being carried to a new stage. The Newroz fire is being further ignited by the will for national unity, the determination for freedom and the power of organized struggle.
We call on youth, women, workers and all our people devoted to freedom to gather in the Newroz squares and to expand the struggle for unity, freedom, democracy and equality.”
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