DEM Party Co-Chair Declares 2025 Newroz as 'Historic Moment for Peace'

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The Co-Chair of the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), Tuncer Bakirhan, has declared this year’s Newroz celebrations as a historic and transformative event, emphasizing its deep connection to the Kurdish struggle for peace and rights. Speaking during a preparatory Newroz ceremony in Diyarbakir on Tuesday, Bakirhan underscored the significance of Abdullah Ocalan’s recent call and linked it to ongoing political developments in Syria.

“A historic call has been made by Ocalan, and we are at a very important stage,” Bakirhan stated. “Today’s Newroz message was presented from this perspective. This Newroz is going to be very significant, and we must commemorate it in the most beautiful way.”

The message from Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), has stirred intense political discussions in Turkey and across the broader Kurdish region. On Feb. 27, 2025, an Imrali delegation, after meeting with Ocalan, presented his statement at a press conference in Kurdish and Turkish.

The message was read by Ahmet Turk, the dismissed mayor of Mardin Metropolitan Municipality, who relayed Ocalan’s words: “The PKK was established when the path to democracy was blocked; the language of peace and democracy needs to be promoted.” The most striking part of the statement was Ocalan’s call for the PKK to lay down its arms, hold a congress, and dissolve itself—a message that has since ignited political debate and strategic recalibrations among Kurdish political factions.

According to Bakirhan, this year’s Newroz holds particular importance not only as a cultural celebration but also as a critical turning point for Kurdish political aspirations, especially in Syria.

His remarks come in the wake of a landmark agreement signed on Monday evening, between Mazloum Abdi, General Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and Ahmed Al-Sharaa, President of Syria’s transitional phase.

The eight-point agreement has been hailed as a crucial step toward ensuring Kurdish rights and broader stability in Syria.

Bakirhan highlighted the convergence of Ocalan’s call with the agreement between Abdi and Al-Sharaa. “This year’s Newroz will be very important and historic in terms of Kurds in Syria achieving their rights and Ocalan’s call to end violence,” he affirmed.

The DEM Party has linked these developments, seeing them as part of a broader framework for resolving the Kurdish question through dialogue and negotiation rather than armed struggle.

In parallel with these statements, the DEM Party has launched negotiations with various political parties in Turkey to discuss the implications of Ocalan’s message. The move signals a potential shift in the region’s political landscape, as Kurdish political actors reassess their strategies in light of Ocalan’s unprecedented call for the PKK’s disbandment.

The response to Ocalan’s message has been mixed. While some Kurdish factions view it as a pragmatic step toward integrating Kurdish political movements into mainstream democratic processes, others remain skeptical, questioning whether the Turkish government will genuinely reciprocate with policy changes and concrete steps toward Kurdish rights.

Similarly, the agreement between the SDF and the new Syrian government has raised questions about the future of Kurdish governance in Syria and the extent to which Kurdish political and cultural rights will be safeguarded.

With Newroz historically symbolizing renewal and resistance for Kurds, the 2025 celebrations are set against the backdrop of momentous political shifts. As Kurds across the region prepare to mark the occasion, the intertwining of Ocalan’s call, the SDF’s agreement with Damascus, and the DEM Party’s intensified political engagements suggest that this year’s Newroz could indeed be a defining moment in the pursuit of Kurdish rights and regional peace.