In a comprehensive interview, Sozdar Avesta, member of the Presidential Council of the KCK, provided an assessment of this year’s Newroz celebrations and their political implications. Avesta also discusses, among other things, the congress that took place in Şengal, the current status of the Peace and Democratic Society Process in Turkey, the necessary foundation for the unity of the Kurdish nation, and the birthday of Abdullah Öcalan, today, 4 April.
Today, 4 April, is the birthday of Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan. He has a very specific definition of this day as the day of the rebirth of the people. What is your message regarding his upcoming birthday? There is a call for people to celebrate this day, especially by going to Amara, the village of his origin. What would you like to say about this?
Rêber Apo’s [Abdullah Öcalan] birthday is the birthday of all humanity. We do not view it merely as Rêber Apo’s arrival in the world. Once again, I extend my greetings to Rêber Apo and celebrate his birthday. Throughout his 77-year life, Rêber Apo has waged immense struggles. From his first rebellion at the age of 7 to the democratic integration we witness today, Rêber Apo has been fighting for 70 years. At a young age, he observed the relationship between his mother and father, the contradictions within society, and the contradictions among the boys and girls he played with. It was in this vicinity that Rêber Apo staged his first rebellion. A great struggle has been waged—and martyrs have fallen—to celebrate this day and, symbolically, for the people to go to Rêber Apo’s village and feel it in their hearts. In 2009, Masun Karaoğlan and Mustafa Dağ were martyred while heading to Amara. On this occasion, I commemorate these two heroes with respect and gratitude.
Rêber Apo describes his life in terms of a first, second, and third birth. The second birth developed the idea of freedom and the PKK ideology through a struggle sustained over decades. Rêber Apo says that existence has been made permanent, and now is the time for freedom. The third birth is the establishment of the democratic society. Rêber Apo is always creating change and innovation within himself. Every day, he recreates his own rebirth into the world. He does this through a paradigm rooted in ecology, democracy, and women’s freedom. This year, we are marking April 4 with the Peace and Democratic Society Process. Rêber Apo’s 77th birthday is being celebrated for this purpose. Our people began celebrating days in advance. In Kurdistan, nothing is limited to a single day—not March 8, not Newroz, not Rêber Apo’s birthday, and not any other day. All of them are days of struggle, resistance, and self-renewal. That is why numerous actions, celebrations, and marches have begun.
In Bakûr, the Women’s Freedom Movement launched a march from Amara to Gemlik that will run from April 1 to April 19. Young people are holding celebrations every day. We saw in the media that internationalist young people had visited Rêber Apo’s home. While such celebrations exist, the true celebration for us is securing Rêber Apo’s physical freedom and celebrating this day together with him. This is not merely a demand; it is our duty. This process demands that we fulfill this duty. For this reason, we view the birthday of Rêber Apo as deeply meaningful and valuable, and we must act accordingly. Everywhere, our people, women, young people, friends, and internationalists should approach this day in this way. Rêber Apo is a great opportunity for all of humanity. When humanity lives freely with Rêber Apo, it enjoys a safer, more peaceful life. The dominant, caste-based murderous powers have stabbed society in the back; Rêber Apo is removing this dagger and offering humanity a more peaceful world. That is why Rêber Apo’s birthday is the birthday of all of us. It is the birthday of all peoples who believe in freedom.
On this occasion, may Rêber Apo’s birthday be a joyous occasion for all mothers, women, young people, children, our entire people, and all peoples. I call upon everyone to take this birthday as an occasion to plant saplings everywhere. The youth must read more about Rêber Apo; our people must read more about Rêber Apo’s paradigm and understand it better. We must better understand who Rêber Apo is and what he seeks to achieve for humanity. We must delve deeper into Rêber Apo’s paradigm, understand it, and ensure it is understood.
One of the key issues that has come to the fore in the course of this process is the national unity of the Kurdish people. As you mentioned, the war in the region is having a significant impact on the Kurdish people. The Kurdish people are among the decisive forces in the Middle East, which is why various policies are being pursued against them. In light of this, what could a national unity of the Kurdish people look like, and what could it be based on?
The dangers facing the people of Kurdistan are clearly evident. All four parts of Kurdistan are embroiled in a major war. We see it every day: there are major attacks on Başûr; constant attacks have been ongoing against the people of Rojhilat and Iran. A Third World War is being waged. Then also Rojava has entered a different phase, and I’ve already mentioned Bakûr. The Kurdish people have voiced their core message. Newroz was kind of a congress of democracy, and our people have made their decision. That decision was that the Kurdish people must unite. Our people have conveyed this message to all political parties, stating that we must stand united against all attacks. The people have built their unity. Unity has been achieved on the ground, in the Newroz gatherings, and in the uprisings—unity against oppression. During the period of major attacks on Rojava, the people had a slogan: “Yek e, yek e, yek e—Gelê Kurd yek e” (It is one, it is one, it is one—The Kurdish people are one). Most recently, in Başûr, a project for the unity of the Kurdish nation was launched with the signatures of over 200 patriots, intellectuals, and community leaders from various sectors, and they stated that the democratic unity of the Kurdish people must be established as soon as possible.
As the KCK, we issued a statement and declared our support of this. As freedom movement, our entire struggle is the struggle for the unity of the Kurdish people. If this spirit has materialized in all parts of Kurdistan today and the foundations of unity have been laid, it is because the freedom movement and Rêber Apo’s paradigm have led the way. Rêber Apo is the architect of this. There are thousands of martyrs across all parts of Kurdistan; this unity has been forged. But we must not view it solely in this way—national unity is not established merely by a few Kurdish parties coming together. It is not just this, but this is also what is desired. Therefore, we once again say to all political parties in Kurdistan on this occasion that this issue is of utmost importance, strategic, and must not be delayed. For this reason, party interests, the interests of a single region, or the interests of a single family must not be prioritized; we must no longer stoop to such considerations. Because the greatest expectation is freedom, and all the peoples of the region have pinned their hopes on the democratic unity of the Kurdish people.
The democratic unity of the Kurdish people forms the foundation for the unity of all peoples in the region. It is for this reason that we are once again calling on everyone—especially the youth and women who can lead this process—to take on responsibility and take a role. Women and youth must take the lead in establishing a democratic unity. Once again, political parties, organizations, artists, academics, and all segments of society must take on responsibilities in this process and exert pressure on those who refuse to join the unity. Only then can we achieve results. Rêber Apo has drawn attention to this issue on numerous occasions. Now is the time for a common diplomacy, common defense, and common administration that prioritizes the interests of the Kurdish people. This will harm no one. It is neither against any state nor in favor of any state. As a movement, we are ready to do our part for national unity. All our efforts will be directed toward ensuring a democratic union in Kurdistan.
Wherever it may be, in whichever part of Kurdistan, if there is an attack against our people, as freedom movement, we will stand by our people. We have always made this clear in our statements. For example, when there was an attack on Başûr, our movement made its stance clear; Rojhilat is currently under a major attack, and in this sense, our stance is clear, our paradigm, and our position are clear. In the face of any danger to our people, we will certainly stand by them and strive to protect them. As freedom movement, we will fight to establish this unity across all of Kurdistan, no matter where the danger comes from, and I reaffirm that we will fulfill the duty that falls upon us. We will strive to ensure that this historic opportunity achieved by the Kurdish people is not missed again and that the process leads to success.
Another recent significant development was the holding of the 6th congress of the Şengal Democratic Autonomous Council. Important decisions regarding the fate of the Êzidî (Yazidi) community and the people living in the Shengal region were made at the congress. How do you assess this work in such a decisive period?
It was a significant congress. We followed it in the media, and we consider it very valuable, precious, and important that our community in Şengal (Sinjar) held such a congress at this time. I salute the resolve demonstrated at the congress and believe that the assessments highlighted at the congress and the decisions made will be implemented. Such a consciousness and conviction have been established. May this congress be a blessing, especially for our Êzidî community and the people of Iraq. I won’t say much about the congress itself because they have expressed their will and made their decisions. But as reported in the press, the congress was organized to prepare for a democratic integration process. They have prioritized democratic integration and the consolidation of their presence in Iraq. Discussions took place on how to protect their existence against decrees and what must be achieved through dialogue to prevent attacks against them. This is significant.
Decisions were made to enable the people of Shengal to organize themselves during this process, and communal decisions were adopted. This pertains specifically to the Êzidî people. The Êzidî community is not a society that is power-seeking, state-oriented, or nation-centered—one that seeks power on that basis. It is a society with ethics, politics, faith, culture, identity, traditions, and history. That is why it is a natural, communal society. The decisions they have made are precisely in line with this. They have come to this day by living a democratic communal life. Today, they are leading a more conscious, more political, and more socially engaged life. I was there, eleven years ago, when the first council was established. Comrade Seid Hesen, Berxwedan, Dijwar, Zerdeşt, and Bêrivan were the friends leading the way during that period. All of them have fallen as martyrs. Comrades like Dilşêr, Egîd, Berfin, and Nûjîn also made tremendous contributions. The first council was established with a very small number of members and limited resources. But at that time, everyone had great hope and faith. Over this eleven-year period, we have reached the point of holding such a congress. This congress reflected the image of a society that believes in itself, is conscious, and is capable of solving its own problems. I consider this very significant. They must organize further and carry out their defenses. After all, organization is defense. I also consider it important for them to establish their communes on this basis. I salute this will that has emerged once again. I wish them success.
This year’s Newroz festivities had something quite unique, as they were celebrated in the spirit of the Peace and Democratic Society Process. Millions of people in Kurdistan, Turkey, and all over the world participated in the festivities. Messages from Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan were conveyed to the people.
I would like to drag attention to the fact that it is the 79th anniversary of the execution of Qazi Muhammad, the leader and pioneer of the Mahabad Republic, and his comrades, as well as the 54th anniversary of the murder of Mahir Çayan and his comrades in Kızıldere. We have also just recently passed the ‘Week of Heroes,’ which we celebrate as the freedom struggle of Kurdistan.
With this in mind, I commemorate all the martyrs with respect and gratitude, among them our pioneers comrade Mazlum Doğan and commander Egît (Mahsum Korkmaz). As freedom movement, we view all martyrs as martyrs of our struggle. Just as Rêber Apo [Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan] sought to expand the struggle of heroes like Mahir Çayan for the brotherhood of peoples—and particularly developed the socialist, leftist line based on their legacy—we too, on this occasion, reaffirm that by remaining faithful to the legacy of these heroes, we will bring this struggle to its intended goals and objectives.
This year’s Newroz festivities left indeed an indelible mark on history. I am convinced that in the future we will speak from ‘before Newroz 2026 and after Newroz 2026.’ Because this Newroz will be the Newroz of Rêber Apo’s physical freedom. On this occasion, I also greet Rêber Apo with respect, love, and longing. Newroz was celebrated on a massive scale; it was magnificent and featured a vibrant array of scenes. Both in Kurdistan—across all four parts—and abroad, some truly remarkable scenes emerged. Millions poured into the Newroz venues, and the celebrations are still ongoing. In Bakûr [Northern Kurdistan], in Amed, and across all the provinces and districts of Kurdistan, beautiful scenes emerged once again. In Istanbul, Newroz became the Newroz of the people. The Newroz square became a space where the process of a Peaceful and Democratic Society was solidified, embodying brotherhood, equality, and democracy. In Rojava [Western Kurdistan] as well, particularly in the resistance-held cities of Kobanê, Qamişlo, Dêrik, and all other cities; and in Başûr [Southern Kurdistan], Newroz was celebrated with great enthusiasm despite this year’s ban. In Qendîl, our people celebrated Newroz with great grandeur despite the rainy and harsh weather conditions. The Newroz celebration held at the Şehit Rüstem Cudî Camp in Maxmûr was also one of the notable events. They celebrated in a very grand manner and revived the spirit of Newroz, bringing Mazlum Doğan into the present day by upholding the tradition from the blacksmith Kawa to Mazlum Doğan. And they depicted Mazlum Doğan with torches—which was a very striking and significant image.
In this regard, I especially greet and congratulate the people of Maxmûr. Their participation in the Kandil Newroz was also very appreciated. In Rojhilat [Eastern Kurdistan], a very intense war is taking place this year, which is why Newroz was barely celebrated there. Celebrations also took place abroad and are still ongoing. The celebration in Frankfurt, for example, was very grand. Unfortunately, the scope of this interview is not sufficient to name them all individually.
In summary, I can say that I once again greet all our people, all the people who participated in this year’s Newroz festivities, and I congratulate them all on behalf of our movement. They demonstrated a very important stance and participation. In particular, women and youth took the lead in the celebrations and became one with Newroz. Particularly, one has to highlight that the women have been in the streets en masse since March 8.
Newroz is, of course, the people’s festival, a festival of resistance, a festival of struggle—it is through struggle that we have reached this day. Newroz became a festival through the victory of the struggle against oppression, and all celebrations are based on this foundation. That is why very important political and unity messages came to the fore during this Newroz. One of the prominent messages was the demand for Rêber Apo’s physical freedom, which was voiced everywhere. This Newroz was like a referendum. Our people placed Rêber Apo’s physical freedom at the forefront as a priority issue. This is very significant. As is, they also expressed their support for the process. The motto of Newroz was Rêber Apo’s physical freedom and democratic unity. The peoples also demonstrated that Newroz forms a strong foundation for living together.
Another prominent statement voiced in the course of this year’s Newroz was that in the war currently raging in the region, the peoples are being sacrificed by hegemonic powers; hence, the importance of the third line—the line of Peace and Democratic Society, the line of freedom. During Newroz, the peoples declared that they do not stand on any side of the war, that they desire peace, democracy, and equality, and that they are once again addressing everyone. It was a very clear message: “The power of the peoples is stronger than all other powers and can achieve its goal.” Thus, a political and moral message of this nature emerged during this Newroz. Both a political stance was demonstrated and the moral imperative of what must be protected was emphasized. For this reason, Newroz achieved its goals and objectives in every sense; the peoples took a clear stance and articulated their demands unequivocally. No power can ignore this.
People across all regions took to the streets to celebrate Newroz and voice their demands for democracy. That is why, despite the bad weather, the people resolutely revived the spirit of Newroz during this year’s celebrations. As freedom movement, we also issued a statement regarding Newroz; on behalf of the Executive Council of the KCK, we both congratulated our people and stated that we take the messages emerging from Newroz as our guiding principle, view them as a command, and will act accordingly. For this reason, our people must organize at every moment, not just during Newroz, and establish their assemblies and communes. An organized society is a society capable of defending itself. It can overcome all threats directed against it with the spirit of Newroz.
The participation of women and youth in Newroz was indeed magnificent. As you highlighted, despite the bad weather, the participation of particularly the youth was quite pressing, and they had quite clear messages. How do you assess the significance that Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan’s messages had on specifically the participation of the women and the youth?
As I already pointed out before, it is without any doubt that this year’s Newroz was Rêber Apo’s Newroz, and what heightened the excitement and enthusiasm of Newroz so much was the fact that it was known several days in advance that the message of Rêber Apo would be read. Our people were expecting a video message; they were even hoping for a surprise—perhaps Rêber Apo would speak live on air. This was the people’s main demand. They did not merely voice this as a demand; their goal and purpose was to celebrate Newroz together with Rêber Apo. Still, Rêber Apo’s message, read across all regions, was as significant, meaningful, valuable, and rich in content as the call he issued on February 27, 2025. It charted a clear course. That is why Rêber Apo’s message left an indelible mark on Newroz.
Women and youth have always been the vanguard of the freedom struggle; just as women took the lead in all areas on March 8, so too did women of all ages, including our mothers, march toward freedom in their traditional attire at the Newroz gatherings. Once again, the youth poured into the squares with the spirit of Mazlum, Zekiye, and Rahşan. I mentioned how they celebrated in various places, such as the Şehit Rüstem Cûdî Camp, in Qendîl, or in Europe. This was not just an ordinary celebration; they took to the streets with the resolve to make the stage the struggle has reached permanent. Women, youth, children, the elderly—everyone poured into the streets. Newroz revitalized everyone; as they say, it can even raise the dead from their graves. The spirit of Newroz merged with the spirit of spring in this way.
In this year’s Newroz, the people also demonstrated their support for the Peace and Democratic Society Process. How do you assess this process? What stage is it currently in? For the past year, the Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan has been striving to pull the Kurdish people and the Turkish people out of a quagmire despite limited resources, yet there is also a serious stalling policy in place. The attacks carried out after Newroz are, in fact, the visible manifestation of this. How do you assess the current state of the Peace and Democratic Society Process?
A few days ago, on March 27, Rêber Apo held a meeting with a delegation from the DEM Party. It was also reported that a meeting took place between the state, Rêber Apo, and the DEM Party delegation. Only Rêber Apo’s message was shared. Furthermore, we have no further information regarding this latest meeting.
The process is, in fact, being continued by Rêber Apo. In his Newroz message as well as in the message he sent to the parliamentary committee, Rêber Apo emphasized the need for laws to be enacted. The process is not at a stage where it is stalled or not being carried out, but we cannot say that the necessary steps in the process have been taken too. In particular, it appears they are using the war between the US and Israel, and Iran—which we refer to as part of the Third World War—as a pretext to slow down the process. We have also observed this situation in the messages from state officials.
For example, in all his statements, the MHP Chairman has said that there is an urgent need to strengthen the unity internally to reinforce the internal front and develop this process. While this is indeed a correct assessment, the events that unfolded after Newroz have raised doubts among everyone. Everyone expected a message to be issued after Newroz. For instance, Turkish President Erdoğan could have given a clear message that a process is underway. Millions of people—Kurds, their allies, and the people of the region—celebrated Newroz, so he could have issued a message. He should have celebrated the Kurdish people’s Newroz and acknowledged their demand to live in unity, solidarity, and peace. Similarly, Bahçeli should have celebrated the Kurdish people’s Newroz. It wasn’t just about celebrating; they should have stated that immediate steps would be taken based on the message received and that they had understood what we wanted. But they didn’t do that—in fact, quite the opposite: after Newroz, just as in previous years, they attacked us, asking why we chanted slogans, why we hung posters of Rêber Apo, and why there were marches. Calling the festivities ‘provocations.’
These attacks run counter to the spirit of the times and are simply unacceptable. They create major contradictions. Moreover, this is a period in which they are carrying out the process alongside Rêber Apo. This is no secret; footage of Rêber Apo’s declaration on laying down arms was broadcast everywhere. The situation that emerged after Newroz gave rise to the suspicion that this government does not want the process to continue. Why are they afraid of the free political will? Why are they afraid of supporting the process? Why do they harbor doubts? Immediately after Newroz, Devlet Bahçeli made a statement, saying there was no rush to pass the laws. However, the other day he made another statement, saying the laws must be passed immediately and that whatever the demands and requests are, they must be discussed. But constantly making contradictory statements, experiencing internal conflicts, and merely passing time with rhetoric—this is not the time for such behavior. This is unacceptable. As stated in the Rêber Apo’s latest statement, steps should have been taken regarding the issues discussed so far.
Rêber Apo has stated many times that the Kurds have no problem with the Republic, but that the Republic is not democratic. The Kurds have no intention of dividing the country, but this country must restore the Kurdish people’s rights so they can live together. Laws must be enacted for this. The one conducting these negotiations, the leader of this project, the one steering this process, and the one embodying this paradigm, this ideology, and this line is Rêber Apo. But Rêber Apo is still in isolation. No one can claim otherwise. For example, Rêber Apo was not enabled to convey a video message for Newroz. If it suits their interests, they say “fine,” but if it doesn’t, they act as they did in the past. This won’t do. Statements are made every day urging them to abandon this attitude.
In his first statement, Bahçeli said the organization should lay down its arms, dissolve itself, and, for Rêber Apo to come to parliament. But where has that promise gone? It still hasn’t been fulfilled. At the same time, he said, “Birds don’t fly with one wing.” Rêber Apo has fulfilled his part in this process. A discussion is currently underway; we’ve received such information. It is being discussed that a facility has been built on Imrali. The discussion is framed as if something entirely different has been constructed, and the mainstream media is presenting it as if a space has been created for Rêber Apo, a step has been taken, or concessions have been made. They are waging a psychological war with these perceptions. Rêber Apo has not yet agreed to move there because his status is unclear. Bahçeli stated just a few days ago that his status must be clarified. Why must his status be clarified? Rêber Apo’s status must be his liberation, his voice must reach all peoples, and he must be brought into the process for the process to move forward. They are not implementing these things, yet they act as if they’ve done something, constantly worrying about provocation, that no one should test their patience, and so on. These statements are unacceptable. The necessary laws that need to be enacted are clear: laws of equality, freedom, and democratic integration. Laws must be enacted to ensure Rêber Apo’s physical freedom and the clarification of his status. And they must be implemented immediately. But instead, sick prisoners are still dying in prisons. Just a few days ago, another sick prisoner gave his life. I honor this martyr with respect and extend my condolences to his family. Those with dozens of medical reports stating they cannot remain in prison have still not been released. The opposition is being suppressed. In such a process where democracy should be developed, operations are carried out against the entire opposition on a daily basis. This is an act of sabotage against the process. What truly sabotages the process is the failure to take action, the suppression of the opposition, and the desire to establish dominance in every sphere. This hinders the progress of the process. And I also want to emphasize again, that the report submitted to parliament must be addressed immediately, but not in the way some are currently debating.
There are fundamental steps that must be taken in this process. First and foremost, Rêber Apo’s physical freedom, the determination of his status, and the enactment of laws that ensure the democratic and sustainable success of the process. If these are achieved, the process will continue. This is our expectation. Rêber Apo also emphasized this in his latest message. He stated that we have ended the armed struggle, and there is no turning back. He delivered a striking and resolute message. We are continuing this, but we do not know how long it will continue. The entire public must also be aware of this; both the Turkish people and the people of the region follow the developments. The resolution of the Kurdish issue in Turkey will, of course, affect its surroundings as well. It will have a significant impact, first and foremost on neighboring states and the entire region, and will prevent hegemonic powers from sacrificing peoples to their own interests. The peoples will attain their rights through the success of this process.
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