A message from the political prisoners was read at the Newroz celebration in Amed, attended by hundreds of thousands.
The letter, signed by Deniz Kaya on behalf of the prisoners, said: “Newroz, the festival that is the song of those who rise up against oppression, is the name of the day that writes the notes of the voice of a culture of resistance into the hearts of the peoples of Mesopotamia, like the colorful revival melody of nature. Peoples who freed themselves from a tyrant like Dehak, who stood at the head of a system that pours oppression on them every day, turned their moment of liberation into a great epic.
Mazlum Doğan took over this flag of resistance, which waves in the hands of the peoples of Media, under the harshest conditions by lighting three matches in a dark cell where he was held alone, and became the pioneer of the Kurd who became Newroz. Against the fascist regime of September 12, the torch of freedom that rose in prison in the person of ‘Modern Kawa’ Mazlum Doğan turned into the great freedom struggle of the guerrillas in the mountains of Kurdistan. The fire that rose with this resistance became a light for the peoples. A story spreading from language to language became the philosophy of the free Kurd.”
The message added: “The fire of freedom turned into a people’s uprising in the consciousness of Zekiye Alkan, who set her body on fire on the walls of Amed. The ululations rising in Nusaybin, Cizre, Digor, and Lice became the magnificent uprising of the Kurdish people who became Newroz. By taking over this sacred flag, Rahşan Demirel, who set her body on fire on the bastions of Kadifekale, showed the patriotic Kurdish people forcibly displaced from all corners of Turkey the burning reality of living with their own identity. She demonstrated that living freely with one’s own identity is only possible with a will that turns into a fireball.
The Kurdish Freedom Movement, which continues its path with determination by adding new links to the Newroz tradition every day, has also embraced the Kurdish diaspora living in countries like Europe, where capitalist modernity is most organized. It has shown both friends and enemies that if there is to be life in Europe, it can only be possible with a personality and will like Ronahi and Berivan.”
The message continued: “Comrade Sema Yüce, who carried the resistance further, raised the torch of freedom even higher in Çanakkale prison and united it with the women’s freedom struggle. By building a bridge of fire between March 8 and March 21, she delivered the first fatal blow to the mentality of liquidationist personalities, which are the internal pillar of the conspiracy, by embracing the ideology of women’s liberation.
Our comrade Fikri Baygeldi, who immediately understood the message given by comrade Sema, one of the pioneers of the women’s freedom struggle, succeeded in becoming a comrade in Sema’s line and became one pillar of the bridge of freedom built with the flame of the Newroz fire.
We wholeheartedly celebrate the Newroz festival of our Leader, who has initiated the practical and political construction work by meticulously weaving the Peace and Democratic Society initiative, as well as the patriotic Kurdish people, our guerrilla forces, our friends, and all our comrades held captive in prisons. We commemorate with great respect and gratitude all our comrades who fell as martyrs during Newroz celebrations. We bow with respect before their memory and renew our promise to succeed.”