Kurdish Youth Movement (Komalên Ciwan) Coordination member Nurhaq Ararat spoke to ANF on the occasion of Newroz 2026. Beginning his remarks by celebrating the Newroz of Abdullah Öcalan, the guerrillas, and the peoples of Kurdistan and the Middle East, Ararat emphasized that Newroz signifies renewal and reconstruction.
Ararat said he experienced the reality of Newroz during his university years in Diyarbakır (Amed) and described the feelings created by his first Newroz celebration as follows: “For me, it was a great opportunity to witness and experience the unique spirit and enthusiasm of Newroz in the city of Diyarbakır, the capital of Kurdistan. At Diyarbakır Newroz, for the first time, I witnessed a massive gathering attended by people from all parts of Kurdistan. Millions filled the Newroz grounds. The morale and enthusiasm were unmatched. During that Newroz, around noon, a call was made for a mass march to take place.
Women and young people took strong leadership in the organized march. During the march, the slogan ‘Bijî Rêber Apo’ (Long live Leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan)) was on the lips of everyone; women, young people, elderly, and children alike, and it was raised collectively by millions. With this excitement and morale, we set out from the Newroz grounds into the march. In the march held in Diyarbakır with the participation of millions, the slogan ‘Bijî Rêber Apo’ was chanted in unison. When the millions in the Newroz grounds began to march, great fear emerged in the eyes of the enemy. At the same time, the enemy withdrew all its military forces and vehicles into the barracks; I witnessed this myself. Once again, a clear reality emerges here: the bond of the people of Kurdistan, especially women and youth, with Abdullah Öcalan is unparalleled. No force or enemy can prevent this march. The Diyarbakır Newroz of 2011 was the first Newroz I attended. In this respect, Newroz of 2011 had a profound impact on me. Following this impact, my awareness and understanding of the movement increased, and by reading Abdullah Öcalan’s writings, I joined the freedom movement.”
Newroz holds great significance for all peoples of the Middle East
Nurhaq Ararat also addressed how the Newroz resistance has influenced the youth movement and said: “The Newroz holiday holds great importance and spiritual value, not only for the people of Kurdistan but for all peoples of the Middle East. Undoubtedly, it also has a unique and profound meaning for Kurdish youth. Following Abdullah Öcalan’s march for freedom and the actions of comrades Mazlum and Zekiye, this reality has deepened further and formed a strong bond for both the people of Kurdistan and Kurdish youth. Abdullah Öcalan defines freedom as follows: ‘The purpose of the universe is to be free. Within the universe, there exists a potential and force that enables everything to flow toward freedom. Nature, animals, plants, trees, and forests, all living beings have this structure. Likewise, within human beings there is always a desire for freedom.’ The Newroz holiday also falls in spring. In spring, nature reveals its desire for freedom, constant renewal, and enrichment. The character of Newroz largely resembles the identity of youth. When we define the identity of youth, we say this: within the identity of youth, there is always renewal and construction; there is fluidity and vitality. If we pay attention, the character and reality of Newroz and the identity of youth are largely similar. Therefore, we can say that the identity of youth means the identity of Newroz. Youth is the one that most deeply feels, lives, and builds within itself the reality of Newroz. Youth has such an identity. With the recognition of Abdullah Öcalan’s reality, this has deepened even further. With Abdullah Öcalan’s paradigm and thought, with the resistance of our movement, and with the legacy formed in the person of Mazlum Doğan and Zekiye Alkan, it has emerged at the point we have reached today in the stance of youth, in the march for freedom, and in the process of self-construction.”
Ararat also said: “This Newroz carries important meaning for the people of Kurdistan, for the Middle East, and especially for women and young people in a new phase. Abdullah Öcalan has initiated a new process. Through the Newroz celebrations of past years, the freedom movement has created great labor and legacy, and the Kurdish people have proven and built their existence. On the occasion of this Newroz, all Kurdish young people will renew themselves and develop consciousness along the lines of democratic socialism. Youth must build themselves on the basis of the reality of socialism and communalism. They must move toward freedom in every respect. They must expand their struggle in the march to secure Abdullah Öcalan’s physical freedom and bring it to a decisive conclusion.”