Turkish state attacks Kurdish protestors

DESPITE THE Turkish government attacking and banning demonstrations on Newroz day, (21 March), hundreds of thousands of Kurdish people took to the streets, demonstrated and called for freedom.

Rozh Pavilov

Newroz (new day) is the Kurdish New Year and has become the Kurdish people's day of national liberation struggle; despite often being banned and attacked by state forces.

On Newroz morning in Kurdistan's capital Diyarbakir city, hundreds of thousands of Kurdish people demonstrated. The Turkish army organised military preparation such as checkpoints where people were arrested on the grounds that they carried red flags and banners. It led to a clash between the people and the army. The police arrested hundreds of young Kurdish people.

Similar things happened in other cities. 10,000 people joined a Newroz Day rally in Kazlicesme in Istanbul, despite raids by the police who tried to stop people from attending from other parts of Istanbul, threatening bus drivers to not carry demonstrators. They also interrupted speakers by shutting down the audio system and censoring speeches. At the end of the rally police arrested hundreds of people including organising committee members, trade unionists and political party members.