Friday, 19 March 2010
Northern Kurdistan (Turkey)- Thousands of Kurdish people called for dialogue and democracy in the Newroz celebrations in Yüksekova. Masses of people flowing into the city celebrated a peaceful beginning of the Kurdish New Year.
The Kurds had demonstrated for the Kurdish national leader Abdullah Öcalan, who is imprisoned on Imrali Island for the last eleven years. They had large-scale posters of Öcalan chanting “PKK is the nation and the nation is here”, “Long live Ocalan” and many other slogans in the support of Kurdistan Worker Party (PKK)
The Kurds all dressed up in the Kurdish traditional clothing conveying the message that they are distinct from the Turks. The celebrations started one hour late due to the heavy rush of people, buildings and roads around the celebration area were crowed with people who could not fit into the area any more.
