Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), a Kurdish umbrella organisation, in a statement on Monday commemorated Newroz as not only a cultural celebration but as a beacon of the Kurdish struggle for self-determination, highlighting the historical roots of the cause as illustrated in the myth of a rebellion against tyrant Dehaq.
In its statement, the KCK embraced contributions made by international allies to the Kurdish cause and democratic modernity.
Highlighting pivotal moments and key figures in Kurdish resistance, the statement underscored the unique role of Abdullah Öcalan, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party’s (PKK) founder and leader who is currently imprisoned in Turkey, and called for his release as part of a broader solution to the Kurdish question.
The KCK criticised Turkey’s government for its harsh policies towards Kurds, especially in Kurdish regions of northern Syria known as Rojava, and labelled Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s regime as fascist and oppressive.
Urging global solidarity and a heightened fight for freedom, the KCK appealed for action during Newroz to advocate for Öcalan’s release and oppose Erdoğan’s administration, presenting the struggle as a path to freedom.