Known as the heartland of the Kurds, Diyarbakır (Amed) has been getting prepared for the Kurdish New Year of Newroz with particular enthusiasm. Especially the women of Diyarbakır, who recently took to the streets for the 8 March demonstrations, express excitement they have for the upcoming Newroz celebrations on the 21 March in an interview with Jin News.
Remzeta Bulut, a housewife, stated that Newroz means a lot for the “unity” of the Kurdish people.
“Kurds have been suffering massacres and torture for such a long time. My 4 cousins were thrown out of military helicopters and burnt to the death. Hundreds of Kurds are in prisons. Despite all these problems, we should achieve national unity,” Bulut said.
“Newroz is important especially for this reason. I am excited about Newroz and I call on everyone to participate in all the Newroz events. Let us unite around the flames of Newroz,” she ended her message.
‘Life is resistance’
Melis Berçem Yüce, a student, stressed that Newroz means resistance against “cruelty and oppression”.
“Just like Mazlum Doğan said, “life is resistance”. March is the month of revival of nature, revival means also resistance for us. Our people have been oppressed and mistreated. Therefore we celebrate Newroz with great enthusiasm, Newroz is where we can unite all together against cruelty and oppression. We should gather around the resistance fire at Newroz 2021 as well,” she said.
‘8 March is a bridge to 21 March’
Zülfiye Kişmir, a Kurdish woman from Diyarbakır, noted that despite all the police and pandemic measures, the women surged onto the streets for the 8 March against the exploitation of their labour and body.
“We can say that the 8 March is a building brick for the 21 March, as both represent the rebellion and the screams of the oppressed women and the oppressed peoples. Women should carry their rebellion onto the 21 March Newroz events with the soul of the 8 March,” Kismir said.
’21 March is the day of revival, resistance and rebellion for the Kurdish women”
Gülistan Yılmaz, another Kurdish woman from Diyarbakır shared her view that women had broken the “isolation” imposed on them by their strong participation in the 8 March demonstrations.
“Women felt the responsibility that they had to take to the streets for İpek Er, for Şule Çet, for Güliston Doku and for all those women who were murdered, raped or kidnapped. Therefore women pushed away the barriers of isolation,” Yılmaz said.
“21 March is the day of revival, resistance and rebellion for Kurdish women.We will carry the energy and enthusiasm of the 8 March to the areas where Newroz is celebrated on 21 March. We will fan the resistance flames and fires of revolutionary Kawa this Newroz. I call on everyone to build that fire, especially the youth,” she stated.
