The Newroz celebration in the city of Qamishlo was held at the 12 March Martyrs Stadium. Aldar Xelîl, a member of the PYD Co-Presidency Council, spoke at the event.
Congratulating people on Newroz, he said, “We bow before the efforts of Leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan) and the martyrs. The spirit of Newroz has endured for thousands of years. We hope Newroz will lead to freedom. This spirit, which has preserved itself for millennia, has reached today through the resistance of heroes like Mazlum Doğan.”
Aldar Xelîl stated, “Newroz is not just a holiday; it is a spirit of resistance and existence. It emerged through coexistence and unity. The essence of Newroz rejects division. Newroz represents the values of patriotism and the brotherhood of peoples. Many have tried to change the meaning of Newroz, but its true spirit remains unchanged. As long as resistance continues, this spirit will remain strong. To uphold these values, unity must be achieved, and a democratic unity among Kurds must be established. For this, a concrete national congress—not merely in words—must be formed to create a common force.”
Xelîl continued, “We must achieve this in order to protect ourselves against the current chaos, war, and crises. If we succeed, we will become pioneers of a democratic Syria. Kurds will become the leading force of the struggle for democracy in the Middle East. Newroz is celebrated in all four parts of Kurdistan and has now transcended borders. This demonstrates its pioneering spirit of resistance. Thanks to our martyrs, our leader, and our resistance, we will expand the spirit of democracy.”
Afterward, Şemsîxan Gulo spoke on behalf of the Council of Martyrs’ Families, saying, “For a new day and a new life, fires have been lit in all four parts of Kurdistan and around the world. We have reached this stage thanks to the resistance of the martyrs and the philosophy of Leader Apo. The enemy wanted to eliminate us, but we said ‘we exist’.”
Gulo concluded: “As long as Leader Apo and the mothers of martyrs exist, we will never bow down. Resistance is life. Freedom for Leader Apo. Happy Newroz.”