JINHA

AMED – For the women who have been flooding into the Newroz arena in Amed since late last night, Newroz is their holiday—the holiday of resistance.

In spite of the recent "Internal Security Law" that outlawed Kurdish traditional dress, women proudly donned their kiras û fîstan and şal û şepik to make the journey out to the Newroz Field, a massive area in Diyarbakır that has been under preparation for the last few days.

Amine Kutlay came to the field in all the color of her traditional clothes today. She mentioned that she utterly condemned the attacks on Newroz celebrations in Hesekê, but said that they wouldn't succeed in intimidating the Kurdish people.

"As long as there are Kurds, the Newroz fire won't go out," she said.

The phrase "Happy Newroz" adorned the municipal buses of Diyarbakır today as they bore massive crowds out to the Newroz field. Others came on foot, some on motorcycles, some packed private cars like sardines. However they reached the field, they left large areas of Diyarbakır quiet and empty today.

The main event of the day was the reading of Öcalan's historic Newroz message in the afternoon, which citizens watched on the giant LED screens set up around the field. However, since first light citizens have been gathering to drink tea from the vendors crowded around the road into the field, trading their own speculations about what the message would say—and to joyously dance traditional Kurdish dances and raise the victory sign that is the symbol of the Kurdish freedom struggle. The millions packing the area have come from around the Kurdish region and the world to be here today.

Asrik Amirya, an Êzîdî woman who has come to Amed from Denmark for the occasion, says it's her first Newroz in the city.

"We came to show our deep connection to freedom," she said. She mentioned the resistance ongoing in Shengal. "As women, we carry that spirit of resistance with us everywhere."

Esmer Esmer Mamedi has come from Eastern Kurdistan (in Iran) for the occasion. She said after the Kobanê resistance, the holiday has a special importance.

"This year Kurdish women gave Newroz its spirit, with the YPJ," said Esmer. She said she was very excited for PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan's message, which would be a continuation of this epic spirit.

Hatice Akbal, of Nusaybin, said her wish this Newroz was to see freedom for Abdullah Öcalan and all prisoners. Edibe Şahin, attending from Nizip, added that although this Newroz they did not succeed in having Abdullah Öcalan at the celebrations, next year they would.

(ekip/fk/cm)