The origins of Newroz trace back to 612 BCE, marking the victory of the Medes over the oppressive ruler of Nineveh. The Persian epic Shahnameh by Ferdowsi recounts the legend of the Kurdish hero Kawa the Blacksmith, who led a rebellion against the tyrant Zahhak, known as the "Serpent King." According to the legend, Kawa ignited fires atop the palace to signal the dawn of a new era of freedom—establishing fire as a central symbol of Newroz for the Kurdish people.
Newroz in Kurdish Literature
Kurdish poets and writers have long revered Newroz as a sacred national occasion. The 15th-century poet Mela Ahmed-i Jaziri (1407–1481) celebrated Newroz as a day of eternal light, while the 17th-century poet Ehmedê Xanî (1650–1706) referenced its significance in his epic Mem and Zin. Later, the 19th-century poet Mele-i Cizîrî (1806–1882) saw Newroz as a symbol of renewal and rebirth. Among the most famous literary works on Newroz is the poem by Abdul Khaliq al-Athiri al-Kirkuki (1890–1962), which encapsulates profound national and patriotic sentiments.
Newroz, Kurdistan, and Repression
The celebration of Newroz has long been suppressed by the authorities ruling over Kurdistan. In various states, the holiday was banned under different pretexts, forcing the Kurds to commemorate it clandestinely or under alternative names. Over time, Newroz took on an increasingly political dimension, serving as an assertion of Kurdish national identity.
In Turkey, the state perceives Newroz as a threat to national security due to its association with Kurdish nationalism, which successive governments have sought to eradicate through systematic repression. As a result, Turkish authorities have implemented harsh measures to prevent public gatherings, suppress Kurdish symbols, and persecute organizers of Newroz celebrations in Northern Kurdistan.
One of the most symbolic acts of defiance occurred in 1982 when Mazlum Doğan, a Kurdish activist imprisoned in Diyarbakir (Amed), set himself on fire on the eve of Newroz. His sacrifice reignited the celebration of Newroz in Northern Kurdistan, turning it into a symbol of resistance. Doğan is now remembered as the "Kawa of the modern era," and his final words—"Resistance is life"—have become a rallying cry for Kurds worldwide.
Repression of Newroz is not exclusive to Turkey. Successive authoritarian regimes in Iraq and Iran have implemented similar policies, employing various means to suppress Kurdish expressions of identity.
Ba'athist Repression of Newroz in Syria
In Syria, the Ba'ath Party's rise to power in 1963 marked the beginning of a systematic campaign of repression against the Kurdish population. The Syrian authorities banned all public celebrations of Newroz, labeling it a "threat to national security" due to its symbolic connection to Kurdish national identity. Under this policy, the state sought to erase Kurdish cultural and political expressions, further marginalizing the community within Syria.
Despite these decades of repression, Newroz endures as a defining moment for the Kurdish people—a reaffirmation of their cultural heritage, a testament to their resilience, and a continued demand for their political and national rights.
Newroz 1986
On March 21, 1986, for the first time, the Kurdish community in Damascus publicly celebrated Newroz. In response, Syrian security forces violently repressed the demonstrators, resulting in the martyrdom of Suleiman Adi, who became the first Kurdish citizen in Syria to be martyred during Newroz by the regime.
In this context, the poet Aziz Ali stated: “We have endured numerous violations by the Ba'athist Syrian state against the Kurdish community, particularly concerning Newroz. Authorities imposed severe restrictions, aiming to prevent our celebrations through various means, including arrests, physical assaults, and other repressive measures.”
Repression Following the March 12, 2004 Uprising
After the Qamishli Uprising on March 12, 2004, the Ba'ath Party authorities intensified their suppression of any Newroz celebrations. Security forces opened fire on celebrants, arresting hundreds.
In 2008, three young men were martyred in Qamishli when Syrian security forces fired on those lighting traditional Newroz fires in front of their homes. Because all three victims were named "Mohammad," they became known in Qamishli as “The Three Mohammads.”
Additionally, many Kurds living in Raqqa, Aleppo, and Hasakah at the time faced systematic violations and arrests simply for lighting the Newroz flame and celebrating the occasion.
Aziz Ali, reflecting on these events, stated: “I was among those who faced violations and multiple arrests at the hands of security forces in Qamishli and Hasakah simply for celebrating Newroz.”
Newroz in Raqqa, 2010
During the Newroz celebrations in Raqqa 2010, Kurdish child Mohammad Noor was martyred, and dozens of others were injured when Syrian security forces opened fire on the gathering.
Violations and Arrests
Aziz Suleiman, the member of the Union of Intellectuals in Hasakah, remarked: “For decades, the Kurdish people have suffered severe abuses at the hands of Ba'athist security forces. Kurdish women, in particular, were subjected to degrading remarks and offensive language simply for wearing traditional Kurdish attire, and their scarves and belts in Kurdish national colors were forcibly removed.”
He further explained: “Security authorities deployed informants and Ba'athist loyalists to Newroz celebrations to compile reports on attendees, leading to widespread arrests the following day.”
Suleiman emphasized that “authoritarian and capitalist regimes oppose Newroz because it symbolizes love, tolerance, and peace—values that stand in direct contradiction to their oppressive rule.” However, he noted that following the Syrian uprising, the Kurdish people began celebrating Newroz alongside all components of society, collectively kindling the flame of freedom.
The Symbolism of Newroz in the Syrian Revolution
With the outbreak of the Syrian revolution in 2011, Newroz became a powerful symbol of resistance against the Syrian regime and its repressive policies. After 2012, celebrations became openly recognized in areas governed by the Autonomous Administration, allowing the Kurdish people in Syria to celebrate freely despite continued security threats from mercenary groups.
Aziz Ali affirmed: “Even after 2011, the Kurdish people continued to endure violations and massacres at the hands of security forces and other oppressive regimes.
ISIS Mercenaries and Newroz: A Horrific Massacre
On the eve of Newroz in 2015, celebrants in the Al-Mufti neighborhood of Hasakah, in Jazira Canton, were subjected to two suicide attacks carried out by ISIS mercenaries. These attacks resulted in the martyrdom of 53 civilians and the injury of over 130 others, including women and children, in one of the most brutal massacres witnessed during this occasion.
Aziz Suleiman stated, "One of the painful memories that the Kurdish people cannot forget is the massacre in 2015 when a car bomb exploded during the Newroz festivities, claiming the lives of dozens of civilians, including women and children."
Turkish-Backed Mercenaries and Newroz: The Continuation of Massacres
In areas occupied by Turkey and its affiliated armed groups in Syria—particularly in Afrin, Serekaniye (Ras al-Ain), and Girê Spî (Tal Abyad)—violations against the Kurdish population persist not only on regular days but also during Newroz. As a result, Kurds in these areas are no longer able to celebrate the occasion freely.
On the eve of Newroz in 2023, mercenaries from the Turkish-backed Eastern Army gangs committed a massacre against a Kurdish family in Jindires. The militants opened fire on members of the Peshmarg family as they were lighting the Newroz fire in front of their home. The attack resulted in the martyrdom of four family members, reflecting ongoing attempts to erase Kurdish identity.
Newroz: Between National Identity and Official Recognition
Following years of restrictions, Newroz has been officially recognized in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, where it is now a public holiday marked by large-scale celebrations. These festivities include the lighting of fires, the wearing of traditional Kurdish attire, and the performance of folk dances. However, in Kurdish-majority areas under Turkish occupation, Newroz celebrations remain prohibited, and Kurds face security threats if they attempt to participate in public events associated with the occasion.
It remains uncertain how the new authorities in Damascus will approach this holiday, as the upcoming Newroz will serve as a key test of their willingness to embrace Syria’s cultural diversity.
Newroz Celebrations Across Communities
Throughout history, Kurds have celebrated Newroz as a national holiday that affirms their identity. Traditional festivities include wearing folkloric Kurdish clothing, gathering in nature, and lighting fires atop mountains and hills on the night of March 21. The occasion also involves listening to Kurdish music, performing folk dances, and using the celebration as an opportunity to express political sentiments.
However, Newroz is not exclusive to the Kurdish people. Many other ethnic groups, including Persians, Azeris, Pashtuns, and various Central Asian nations such as Turkmens, Tajiks, Uzbeks, Kyrgyz, and Kazakhs, also celebrate this holiday.
Most Newroz participants worldwide wear intricately decorated traditional garments that symbolize the colors of spring and reflect their cultural heritage. In Iran, it marks the beginning of the Persian New Year and symbolizes the victory of light over darkness.
In some former Soviet republics, such as Kyrgyzstan, Newroz was banned for many years due to its association with Zoroastrian religious traditions. In Egypt, the holiday was historically observed by the pharaohs and later revived by the Fatimid Caliphate under the name Coptic Newroz or Sham El-Nessim.
According to UNESCO, approximately 300 million people worldwide celebrate Newroz. In February 2010, UNESCO officially recognized Newroz as part of humanity’s intangible cultural heritage and declared March 21 as the International Day of Newroz.
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