ANKARA - Stating that Newroz symbolizes the revolt of the oppressed people against the tyrant governments, historian Mehmet Bayrak said that the Newroz of 2022 will no less than the Newroz celebrations of 2013.

 

The enthusiasm of Newroz having a history that goes back thousands of years back, is still celebrated with great enthusiasm.  While the blacksmith Kawa has always been the symbol of the people's struggle against the oppressors, Dehak became the oppressor to be fought against. Researcher and historian Mehmet Bayrak made evaluations to the Mesopotamia Agency (MA) about Newroz, which he discussed with different dimensions in various magazines, publications and television programs. Stating that peoples who, like the Kurds, feel the desire for political and social liberation in their bones, perceive Newroz as a festival of rebirth, salvation and liberation, Bayrak emphasized the importance of Newroz for the Kurdish people. Bayrak said that the letter Abdullah Öcalan sent to an event to be read at 2013 Diyarbakir Newroz is still valid today.

 

ÖCALAN'S MESSAGE

 

Bayrak made the following assessment regarding the 2013 Newroz: "Newroz celebrated with the participation of more than one million people in Amed, the ancient city of the Kurdish people, is perhaps a phase in the history of the Newroz. On the other hand, Öcalan's speech, which gave many important messages, reminded me of the famous Kurdish intellectual Dr. Abdullah Cevdet's speech in 1909, the memorandum letter sent by Dr. Şükrü Mehmet Sekban to the Ankara government, and the memorandum given to the government by İsmet Paşa in behalf of the Kurdish intellectuals in the diaspora in 1926. Especially if the final declaration announced after a rejection and denial is taken into account, none of the things that hurt us would not have happened, and Turkey's democracy would have been improved today. I hope Öcalan's message will be taken seriously and we will achieve a real democracy where peoples will be liberated and live like brothers and sisters.

 

THE CONSCIENCE OF THE SOCIETY

 

Reminding that he treats Newroz with different dimensions in the magazines and publications he wrote to, Bayrak said that Newroz is a holiday that dates back to ancient mythological sources, like many traditions and customs. Stating that its history dates back more than 2600 years, Bayrak said, “The written sources and the data we have, prove that. Maybe there are mythological sources dating further back in the past. But Newroz stems from a root that is believed to have taken place in Iran, 2600 years ago. The society and those close to him are increasingly disturbed by the cruel Dehak, and unrest arises. There emerges a great awareness and desire in society to get rid of this dictatorship, despotism and cruelty. Blacksmith Kawa goes down in history as a hero who pioneered this, represented the conscience of the society, and led the society to salvation by destroying Dehak.” 

 

FESTIVAL OF LIBERATION

 

Pointing out that Newroz gains more meaning among peoples, like the Kurds, who desire and strive for liberation, Bayrak said, “For this reason, Newroz, which is celebrated as a spring festival in some Turki states and communities, is different from other peoples. It is celebrated as Ali's birthday in the Alevi community. In other words, there is such an image of Newroz in all communities that are tired of oppression and desire salvation. For this reason, it exists in the history of the Kurds as well as in their mythology. Many Kurdish poets, especially the narratives in Mem û Zîn, have always regarded Newroz as a liberation day, a new day, considered an enlightenment, and wrote poems about it. Newroz holds a special place in Kurdish songs. "

 

EVERY NIGHT HAS A DAY

 

Stating that the cruel ruler Dehak devoured the entire society to save himself, Bayrak said that  the reaction spreaded from viziers to the grassroots step by step. Bayrak said: “The society was being sacrificed for the benefit of one person. Blacksmith Kawa, representing the society, annihilated Dehak. Every night has a day, oppression and intimidation always causes reaction of the peoples. This is proved by historical and social developments. Today's Newroz is experienced in a process that corresponds to this historical and social reality. No tyrants lives forever just like no cruelty can last forever. That's why the poets and thinkers said; "Every night has a day."

 

NEWROZ GAINS SOCIAL CONTENT

 

Noting that Newroz has a more political content for the Kurdish people and that is why it was banned for years, Bayrak said, "While trying to present it as a spring holiday by various political ideologies, seeing that it was perceived and celebrated in a different way among Kurds, they started banning it. But this of course caused a great reaction in the public being a tradition that dates back thousands of years. With the Kurdish people getting more conscience about their ideology, the celebrations spreaded to metropols from the mountain tops where the Kurds started fires to celebrate Newroz. The 2013 celebration was held with an audience of more than millions. Öcalan's stataments made it more meaningful."

 

2013 NEWROZ

 

Stating that the magnificent celebration of March 8 International Women's Day will be reflected to the Newroz celebrations, Bayrak said that he believes this year celebrations will be no less than the celebration in 2013.

 

 

MA / Zemo Aggoz