The Co-Presidency of the KCK (Kurdistan Communities Union) Executive Council released a statement on the occasion of the upcoming Kurdish New Year, Newroz, on March 21.
The KCK statement on Wednesday reads as follows:
“As we welcome a new Newroz and a new year of hope, we celebrate the Newroz of Rêber Apo [Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan], all our comrades in prison, the guerrilla fighters, the mothers for peace, the entire Kurdish people, and all the peoples of the Middle East. We honor all Newroz martyrs—including our modern-time Kawa Mazlum Doğan, Zekiye Alkan, and Rahşan Demirel—with respect and gratitude. We reaffirm our commitment to realizing their aspirations.
We are marking the 2026 Newroz amidst a process where today’s Dehaks have turned the Middle East into a sea of blood. Just as in history, the task of fighting against today’s Dehaks with the spirit of Newroz and the alliance of the peoples stands before us. Newroz serves as a call to jointly struggle against these Dehaks through the alliance of the peoples. It is time for the peoples to unite in the spirit of Newroz. Rising up on Newroz—a day of struggle against all forms of evil—will bring the end of the Dehaks closer and carry the Middle East toward a democratic civilization.
Rêber Apo, in his ‘Call for Peace and Democratic Society’ on February 27, ahead of the Newroz 2025, aimed to put an end to the Dehak-like forces and wars in the Middle East. Rêber Apo seeks to establish a policy that will put a stop to the hegemonic international and regional authoritarian powers whose policies have become a burden on the people. Because these powers not only fail to resolve problems with their policies but also actually exacerbate them.
The ruling powers in the Middle East have become detached from society. Consequently, they are growing weaker and becoming vulnerable to external intervention. The failure to resolve issues in the Middle East is being used as a pretext for external intervention. With his ‘Call for Peace and Democratic Society,’ Rêber Apo seeks to put an end to this situation that has persisted for over a century. His call includes all Middle Eastern countries. It is particularly aimed at states that seek to keep the Kurds under their domination. Because the unresolved Kurdish issue has effectively held the entire Middle East hostage through these countries.
Rêber Apo seeks the democratization of these countries through democratic integration based on Kurdish freedom so that the countries of the Middle East may be freed from this shackle binding their feet. The ‘Call for Peace and Democratic Society’ points the way to the correct solution for all countries. This is the path that will put a stop to the international powers’ Middle East project and make the Middle East free and democratic. This is the third path that will make the peoples of the Middle East free and democratic. This is also the call of the Newroz spirit to the peoples.
On March 8, women, with this awareness, expressed their demand for the freedom of Rêber Apo, the architect of the ‘Call for Peace and a Democratic Society.’ Women know that Rêber Apo’s freedom will transform the entire Middle East into a land of sunshine. Because Rêber Apo places women’s freedom at the foundation of all freedoms and democratization.
Our entire people took up the banner carried by women on March 8 and are expressing the demand for Rêber Apo’s freedom everywhere. They know that Rêber Apo, who has made the Kurdish people a Newroz people, will make all the peoples of the Middle East a Newroz people. Just as Newroz has united the Kurdish people, it possesses a spirit of freedom and brotherhood that will unite the peoples of the Middle East.
Our people are celebrating this year’s Newroz everywhere as the ‘Newroz of Freedom for Rêber Apo and Democratic Kurdish Unity.’ The Kurdish people, who have strongly reinforced their social unity through solidarity actions for Rojava, will further strengthen democratic Kurdish unity this Newroz, bringing a free and democratic life closer in all four parts of Kurdistan.
Just as the Kurdish people have shown great solidarity with Rojava Kurdistan, they will also stand by our people in Rojhilat, who are directly affected by the US/Israel-Iran war. The necessary sensitivity and responsibility to ensure that the people of Rojhilat do not bear the brunt of this war will be demonstrated by our entire people. The Kurdish people are also fighting for a democratic Iran where they can achieve freedom in Rojhilat.
It is clear that freedom and democracy can only be achieved through struggle everywhere. From this perspective, Rêber Apo’s freedom and the realization of a democratic society also depend on struggle. Newroz has always been a day when the struggle reaches its peak and gains momentum for the success of that year’s struggle. From this perspective, let us fill the Newroz squares everywhere to physically free Rêber Apo, bring the democratic society project to success, and strengthen democratic Kurdish unity! Let us open the gates of Imrali by clearly expressing our demand for Rêber Apo’s freedom.
We believe that this Newroz, led by youth and women, will be the pinnacle of all Newroz celebrations, and we call for the year 2026 to be transformed into the Year of our Free Leader, Free Kurdistan, and Democratic Middle East through a democratic communal society. We once again celebrate the Newroz of our people and all peoples.”
Leave a Reply