As spring arrives in 2025, Kurds across Turkey, Iran, Syria, and Iraq celebrate Newroz with unprecedented freedom. For the first time, Kurdish New Year festivities in Syria take place after Assad’s fall, while in Turkey, President Erdogan embraces Newroz celebrations as a symbol of renewed Kurdish-Turkish peace efforts.
Historic Developments Transform Traditional Celebrations
The Kurdish New Year of 2725 (2025 in the Gregorian calendar) marks a watershed moment for Kurdish communities throughout the Middle East. In Syria, following the December overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime by opposition forces, Kurds are celebrating Newroz freely for the first time in decades. The transition government faces significant challenges, including creating inclusive governance and integrating various armed groups into a unified national military.
Meanwhile, in Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has made the unprecedented move of officially recognizing Newroz celebrations, participating in festivities as a gesture toward revitalizing peace processes with the Kurdish population. This symbolic act represents a potential turning point in Turkish-Kurdish relations after decades of conflict.
Peace Processes Gain Momentum
Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) President Masoud Barzani delivered a powerful message through his representative at Diyarbakir’s Newroz celebration, expressing hope for the release of jailed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan.
“On the national holiday of Newroz, we proudly emphasize the culture of coexistence and the peaceful message of the people of Kurdistan. From this perspective, we support the peace process and resolution in Turkey. We hope that Mr. Abdullah Ocalan is released soon, and we consider peace as the only right way to overcome problems,” Barzani stated.
A month earlier, Ocalan himself called on the PKK to disarm and shift their struggle for Kurdish rights into the political arena. The pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) has conveyed Ocalan’s message to Turkish parties and Kurdistan Region officials, with plans to meet President Erdogan after Ramadan.
The PKK, which launched its armed struggle against the Turkish state in 1984, has set Ocalan’s freedom as a precondition for laying down arms. Ocalan has been imprisoned on Imrali Island since 1999.
Iraq’s Leadership Celebrates Kurdish Heritage
Iraq’s highest officials extended warm congratulations to the Kurdish people on Newroz, emphasizing national unity and shared destiny.
President Abdul Latif Rashid described the lighting of the Newroz flame as “a powerful symbol of heroism, sacrifice, and the triumph of justice over oppression,” adding that “it marks the dawn of a new era, embodying renewal, resilience, and hope.”
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani reminded Iraqis of their “bonds of love, shared destiny, and great history,” while Parliament Speaker Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani called Newroz “an opportunity for all of us to celebrate unity and diversity.”
Kurdistan Region Embraces Traditional Festivities
In the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, preparations reached fever pitch, particularly in Akre (Duhok province), widely considered the capital of Newroz. Over 2,000 torches were prepared for the festival, with tens of thousands expected to flock to the area.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani issued a statement describing Newroz as a “symbol of freedom, renewal, and resilience” and “a festival that represents hope, determination, revival, and resistance, with a vision for a brighter future.”
Barzani noted that this year’s celebrations come at “a time of heightened sensitivity, both in the region and globally,” referring to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and diplomatic efforts to resolve various international disputes.
Kurdish Leaders Call for Unity
Leaders across Kurdistan emphasized the importance of unity in their Newroz messages. Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) President Bafel Jalal Talabani stated, “Newroz carries a profound message of renewal, harmony, coexistence, brotherhood, and unity for the Kurds in their pursuit of freedom and independence.”
He added, “The Kurdish people deserve to live with honor and dignity, so let us unite and work together to establish lasting peace and secure a future of pride and prosperity for Kurdistan.”
Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani echoed these sentiments, declaring, “Newroz is not just a holiday for us Kurds; it is a day of renewal, resistance, and unity. I hope to see Kurds, both here and around the world, united in one voice and one hand.”
Cultural Significance Remains Central
Despite the political developments, the cultural heart of Newroz remains strong. Kurds celebrate with colorful festivities, lighting large fires symbolizing triumph over tyranny, and performing the traditional Kurdish folk dance, Halparke, where crowds hold hands and dance together in unity.
The year 2725 in the Kurdish calendar (corresponding to 2025 in the Gregorian calendar) sees hundreds of thousands celebrating across Kurdistan, including regions in Turkey, Iran, and Syria. The traditions symbolize not only the arrival of spring but also freedom from oppression and resistance against injustice.
Regional Implications in a Changing Middle East
As Newroz celebrations unfold, they do so against a backdrop of significant regional change. The Middle East has experienced a surge in conflicts over the past two years, including the Israel-Hamas war and tensions between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Simultaneously, diplomatic efforts continue on multiple fronts, including attempts to resume negotiations between the U.S. and Iran and resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with U.S. President Donald Trump engaging in direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani pointed to a “growing trend of peace in international politics,” emphasizing that it is “in the best interest of the people of Kurdistan to align themselves with this movement.” He urged all Kurds to “deepen their commitment to peaceful principles and actions” to “elevate the Kurdish cause on the global stage.”
Challenges and Hopes for the Future
Despite the hopeful tone of this year’s celebrations, significant challenges remain. Between Erbil and Baghdad, unresolved issues include unpaid salaries for Kurdistan Regional Government employees and the continued suspension of Kurdish oil exports.
President Barzani stated, “In our interactions with the Federal Government of Iraq, we reaffirm our commitment to the Constitution as the basis for resolving disputes through dialogue and mutual understanding,” stressing that “Iraq’s stability, prosperity, and progress depend on respecting the constitutional rights of all its communities and authentically implementing the federal system.”
As fires burn bright across Kurdistan this Newroz, they illuminate not only ancient traditions but also new possibilities for peace and unity in a region long divided by conflict. The Kurdish New Year of 2725 may well be remembered as a pivotal moment when celebration turned toward lasting reconciliation.
