Kurds in Karakoçan (Dep), a district in Turkey’s eastern province of Elazığ (Xarpêt), kickstarted Turkey’s 2024 Newroz celebrations on Friday, paying tribute to iconic Kurdish figures Mazlum Doğan and Hayri Durmuş, and calling for the freedom of Abdullah Öcalan and the recognition of Kurdish rights.
The event, carrying the theme “Time for Freedom and Victory” (Rabe dema azadî û serkeftinê ye) paid homage to Doğan and Durmuş, both natives of Elazığ. The choice of Karakoçan for the inaugural celebration was significant, aiming to broadcast a powerful message of struggle against oppression and for Kurdish rights.
Kurdish figures of resistance
Mazlum Doğan and Hayri Durmuş stand as important figures of Kurdish resistance, embodying the fight for Kurdish rights. Doğan, notably, chose self-immolation on 21 March 1982, during the Newroz celebrations in Diyarbakır Prison, as a protest against dire conditions, making him a martyr for the Kurdish cause. His sacrifice, aligning with the Kurdish New Year, underscores a legacy of defiance celebrated annually.
Hayri Durmuş, alongside Doğan, significantly impacted the Kurdish struggle through his participation in the 1982 hunger strike in Diyarbakır Prison. His protest against the maltreatment of Kurdish detainees and demand for rights spotlighted the oppression Kurds faced. Durmuş’s death, amid the hunger strike, fortified his status as a beacon for justice and equality, motivating ongoing advocacy for Kurdish recognition and rights.
The significance of Newroz
Abdulkadir Gül from the Karakoçan Newroz Organising Committee highlighted the significance of igniting the Newroz fire in Doğan and Durmuş’s homeland. “We want the first fire here to be worthy of our values and to scream out to the world in a way that Mazlum and Hayri would be proud of,” Gül explained. He stressed the goal of breaking the isolation enforced on Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan in İmralı Island Prison through the spirit emanating from Karakoçan, expecting the echoes of their voice to reach across the Middle East and Kurdish regions.
Hediye Ayık, a member of the Newroz Organising Committee, emphasised Newroz’s role for Kurds. “Newroz means living and freedom for us. This year, we want to shout these values louder,” she said. The celebrations are a stance against the conditions in Turkish jails, particularly for political prisoners currently on hunger strikes, intending to be their voice in the public squares.
The 2024 Newroz will be celebrated across Turkey at 57 central locations, with major gatherings in Istanbul and Diyarbakır (Amed) on 17 March and 21 March, respectively.
