Massive Newroz celebrations – which were organised under the slogan ‘We will overcome the occupying forces through the resistance soul of Newroz’ – took place throughout the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES, also known as Rojava).
In many towns of AANES, peoples in the region came together and burned the Newroz fire together and spoke out against the ongoing attacks and ‘occupation’ in some parts of northeastern Syria. People in Kobane celebrated Newroz from the early hours of the morning. Kurdish, Arab and Assyrian peoples joined as one in the Newroz celebrations in Kobane.
The opening speech of the Kobane organised Newroz 2021 event stated that it was dedicated to Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan.
After the speeches and fires were lit, the celebrations in Kobane ended with traditional ‘halay’ dances that took place as Kurdish and Arabic songs were performed.
Himo village in Qamishli also celebrated Newroz. The people of Qamishli chanted slogans in protest at the ongoing attacks in the region by the Turkish state and affiliated local jihadist forces. The Newroz celebration in the village of Hileq included holding a moment of silence in remembrance of the thousands of people who died in the liberation of North and East Syria. The mothers of the fighters who lost their lives in the defence of the North East Syria lit the Newroz fire in Al-Muabbada (Girkê Legê).
Newroz was also celebrated in Al-Malikiyah (Dêrik) where the Newroz fire was lit and the evaluations of Abdullah Öcalan concerning the meaning of Newroz were played on loudspeakers. Thousands of people also celebrated in Al-Darbasiyah (Dirbêsiyê) and Al-Wahtaniyah (Tirbespiyê).
After speeches delivering messages of resistance against the ‘occupation’, in Al-Hasakah (Hesekê), groups performed songs and folk dances.
