The Kurdish Newroz - Turkey

Turkish Kurds celebrate the once banned Newroz, a holiday to mark their historical deliverance from a tyrant. Coinciding with the traditional welcome of Spring, Newroz has over the years become increasingly politicised, linked to the struggle for an independent Kurdish homeland.

The jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan sent a message for Newroz, calling on his fighters to end the armed struggle against Turkey, and go to the negotiating table instead.

Ten years ago, the display of Kurdish colours or a photograph of Ocalan would have provoked arrest. This year, people freely wore PKK colours and carried images of their jailed leader. They also brandished the colours of the People’s Protection Unit, the Syrian Kurdish movement which has been at the forefront of battling ISIS (The Stand Global)

A Kurdish boy jumps over the fire during the Newroz festival which mark the first day of spring in Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday 22 March, 2015 During Newroz people display red, green and yellow flags of the Kurdish rebel group PKK. The Kurds use the Newroz festival to promote the Kurdish culture. (Andrés Gutiérrez/TheStand)
A group of Kurdish people performs the 'Delilo', the typical Kurdish dance during the Newroz festival that marks the first day of spring, Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday 21 March, 2015 During Newroz people display red, green and yellow flags of the Kurdish rebel group PKK. The Kurds use the Newroz festival to promote the Kurdish culture. (Andrés Gutiérrez/TheStand)
Kurds displays the PKK flag and chant slogans during the Newroz festival to mark the first day of spring, Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday 22 March, 2015 During Newroz people display red, green and yellow flags of the Kurdish rebel group PKK. The Kurds use the Newroz festival to promote the Kurdish culture. (Andrés Gutiérrez/TheStand)
A Kurdish boy jumps over the fire during the Newroz festival to mark the first day of spring, Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday 22 March, 2015 During Newroz people display red, green and yellow flags of the Kurdish rebel group PKK. The Kurds use the Newroz festival to promote the Kurdish culture. (Andrés Gutiérrez/TheStand)
A Kurdish women walks dressed with the Kurdish colors during the Newroz festival which mark the first day of spring in Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday 22 March, 2015 During Newroz people display red, green and yellow flags of the Kurdish rebel group PKK. The Kurds use the Newroz festival to promote the Kurdish culture. (Andrés Gutiérrez/TheStand)
A group of Kurdish girls performs and sing Kurdish songs during the Newroz festival in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday 21 March, 2015 During Newroz people display red, green and yellow flags of the Kurdish rebel group PKK. The Kurds use the Newroz festival to promote the Kurdish culture. (Andrés Gutiérrez/TheStand)
A group of Kurdish boys build a human tower and display a PKK flag during the Newroz festival to mark the first day of spring in Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday 22 March, 2015 During Newroz people display red, green and yellow flags of the Kurdish rebel group PKK. The Kurds use the Newroz festival to promote the Kurdish culture. (Andrés Gutiérrez/TheStand)
Two Kurdish women walk dressed with the Kurdish colors behind a police fence during the Newroz festival to mark the first day of spring in Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday 22 March, 2015 During Newroz people display red, green and yellow flags of the Kurdish rebel group PKK. The Kurds use the Newroz festival to promote the Kurdish culture. (Andrés Gutiérrez/TheStand)
Kurdish boys try to fly and kite that show a picture of the leader of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) Abdullah Ocalan, during the Newroz festival to mark the first day of spring, Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday 22 March, 2015 During Newroz people display red, green and yellow flags of the Kurdish rebel group PKK. The Kurds use the Newroz festival to promote the Kurdish culture. (Andrés Gutiérrez/TheStand)
A Kurdish man covers his face with a scraf that shows the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) colors, during the Newroz festival to mark the first day of spring in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday 22 March, 2015. The Kurds use the Newroz festival to promote the Kurdish culture. (Andrés Gutiérrez/TheStand)
A Kurdish woman makes the victory sign and chants slogans during the Newroz festival to mark the first day of spring, Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday 21 March, 2015 During Newroz people display red, green and yellow flags of the Kurdish rebel group PKK. The Kurds use the Newroz festival to promote the Kurdish culture. (Andrés Gutiérrez/TheStand)
A kurdish boy jumps over the fire during the Newroz festival to mark the first day of spring in Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday 22 March, 2015 During Newroz people display red, green and yellow flags of the Kurdish rebel group PKK. The Kurds use the Newroz festival to promote the Kurdish culture. (Andrés Gutiérrez/TheStand)
A Kurdish boy jumps over the fire during the Newroz festival to mark the first day of spring in Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday 22 March, 2015 During Newroz people display red, green and yellow flags of the Kurdish rebel group PKK. The Kurds use the Newroz festival to promote the Kurdish culture. (Andrés Gutiérrez/TheStand)
Kurds from Istanbul make victory signs and chants slogans during the Newroz festival in Haci Ahmet, Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday 21 March, 2015 During Newroz people display red, green and yellow flags of the Kurdish rebel group PKK. The Kurds use the Newroz festival to promote the Kurdish culture. (Andrés Gutiérrez/TheStand)
A group of Kurdish displays a flag thats shows the Kurdish colors and chants slogans during the Newroz festival in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday 22 March, 2015 During Newroz people display red, green and yellow flags of the Kurdish rebel group PKK. The Kurds use the Newroz festival to promote the Kurdish culture. (Andrés Gutiérrez/TheStand)
Kurds make the victory signs and chant slogans during the Newroz festival to mark the first day of spring, Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday 22 March, 2015 During Newroz people display red, green and yellow flags of the Kurdish rebel group PKK. The Kurds use the Newroz festival to promote the Kurdish culture. (Andrés Gutiérrez/TheStand)
A Kurdish boy jumps over the fire during the Newroz festival to mark the first day of spring, Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday 22 March, 2015 During Newroz people display red, green and yellow flags of the Kurdish rebel group PKK. The Kurds use the Newroz festival to promote the Kurdish culture. (Andrés Gutiérrez/TheStand)
A kurdish boy jumps over the fire during the Newroz festival to mark the first day of spring in Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday 22 March, 2015 During Newroz people display red, green and yellow flags of the Kurdish rebel group PKK. The Kurds use the Newroz festival to promote the Kurdish culture. (Andrés Gutiérrez/TheStand)
A Kurdish boy jumps over the fire during the Newroz festival to mark the first day of spring in Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday 22 March, 2015 During Newroz people display red, green and yellow flags of the Kurdish rebel group PKK. The Kurds use the Newroz festival to promote the Kurdish culture. (Andrés Gutiérrez/TheStand)
A group of Kurdish boys wearing masks with the colors of the PKK during the Newroz festival which mark the first day of spring in Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday 22 March, 2015 During Newroz people display red, green and yellow flags of the Kurdish rebel group PKK. The Kurds use the Newroz festival to promote the Kurdish culture. (Andrés Gutiérrez/TheStand)
A kurdish boy jumps over the fire during the Newroz festival to mark the first day of spring in Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday 22 March, 2015 During Newroz people display red, green and yellow flags of the Kurdish rebel group PKK. The Kurds use the Newroz festival to promote the Kurdish culture. (Andrés Gutiérrez/TheStand)
A group of Kurdish people performs the 'Delilo', the typical Kurdish dance during the Newroz festival that marks the first day of spring, Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday 21 March, 2015 During Newroz people display red, green and yellow flags of the Kurdish rebel group PKK. The Kurds use the Newroz festival to promote the Kurdish culture. (Andrés Gutiérrez/TheStand)
A Kurdish woman makes the victory sign and chants slogans during the Newroz festival to mark the first day of spring, Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday 21 March, 2015 During Newroz people display red, green and yellow flags of the Kurdish rebel group PKK. The Kurds use the Newroz festival to promote the Kurdish culture. (Andrés Gutiérrez/TheStand)
Kurds from Istanbul make victory signs and chants slogans during the Newroz festival in Haci Ahmet, Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday 21 March, 2015 During Newroz people display red, green and yellow flags of the Kurdish rebel group PKK. The Kurds use the Newroz festival to promote the Kurdish culture. (Andrés Gutiérrez/TheStand)
A group of Kurdish girls performs and sing Kurdish songs during the Newroz festival in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday 21 March, 2015 During Newroz people display red, green and yellow flags of the Kurdish rebel group PKK. The Kurds use the Newroz festival to promote the Kurdish culture. (Andrés Gutiérrez/TheStand)
Kurds make the victory signs and chant slogans during the Newroz festival to mark the first day of spring, Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday 22 March, 2015 During Newroz people display red, green and yellow flags of the Kurdish rebel group PKK. The Kurds use the Newroz festival to promote the Kurdish culture. (Andrés Gutiérrez/TheStand)
Kurds displays the PKK flag and chant slogans during the Newroz festival to mark the first day of spring, Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday 22 March, 2015 During Newroz people display red, green and yellow flags of the Kurdish rebel group PKK. The Kurds use the Newroz festival to promote the Kurdish culture. (Andrés Gutiérrez/TheStand)
A Kurdish boy walks among a group of young people dancing the 'Delilo' during the Newroz festival to mark the first day of spring in Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday 22 March, 2015 During Newroz people display red, green and yellow flags of the Kurdish rebel group PKK. The Kurds use the Newroz festival to promote the Kurdish culture. (Andrés Gutiérrez/TheStand)
A group of Kurdish displays a flag thats shows the Kurdish colors and chants slogans during the Newroz festival in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday 22 March, 2015 During Newroz people display red, green and yellow flags of the Kurdish rebel group PKK. The Kurds use the Newroz festival to promote the Kurdish culture. (Andrés Gutiérrez/TheStand)
A Kurdish boy jumps over the fire during the Newroz festival which mark the first day of spring in Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday 22 March, 2015 During Newroz people display red, green and yellow flags of the Kurdish rebel group PKK. The Kurds use the Newroz festival to promote the Kurdish culture. (Andrés Gutiérrez/TheStand)
A group of Kurdish boys build a human tower and display a PKK flag during the Newroz festival to mark the first day of spring in Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday 22 March, 2015 During Newroz people display red, green and yellow flags of the Kurdish rebel group PKK. The Kurds use the Newroz festival to promote the Kurdish culture. (Andrés Gutiérrez/TheStand)
A group of Kurdish boys wearing masks with the colors of the PKK during the Newroz festival which mark the first day of spring in Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday 22 March, 2015 During Newroz people display red, green and yellow flags of the Kurdish rebel group PKK. The Kurds use the Newroz festival to promote the Kurdish culture. (Andrés Gutiérrez/TheStand)
Two Kurdish women walk dressed with the Kurdish colors behind a police fence during the Newroz festival to mark the first day of spring in Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday 22 March, 2015 During Newroz people display red, green and yellow flags of the Kurdish rebel group PKK. The Kurds use the Newroz festival to promote the Kurdish culture. (Andrés Gutiérrez/TheStand)
A Kurdish boy climbs a tree to grab a YPG flag (People's Protection Units ) during Newroz festival in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday 22 March, 2015.
The Kurds use the Newroz festival to promote the Kurdish culture. (Andrés Gutiérrez/TheStand)
Kurdish boys try to fly and kite that show a picture of the leader of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) Abdullah Ocalan, during the Newroz festival to mark the first day of spring, Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday 22 March, 2015 During Newroz people display red, green and yellow flags of the Kurdish rebel group PKK. The Kurds use the Newroz festival to promote the Kurdish culture. (Andrés Gutiérrez/TheStand)
A Kurdish man covers his face with a scraf that shows the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) colors, during the Newroz festival to mark the first day of spring in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday 22 March, 2015. The Kurds use the Newroz festival to promote the Kurdish culture. (Andrés Gutiérrez/TheStand)
A kurdish boy jumps over the fire during the Newroz festival to mark the first day of spring in Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday 22 March, 2015 During Newroz people display red, green and yellow flags of the Kurdish rebel group PKK. The Kurds use the Newroz festival to promote the Kurdish culture. (Andrés Gutiérrez/TheStand)

Andrés Gutiérrez

The Kurdish Newroz - Turkey