Kurds in Turkey celebrate Nowruz spring festival, call for swift government action to peace

Record ID: 2369025

  • Title: Kurds in Turkey celebrate Nowruz spring festival, call for swift government action to peace
  • Date: 21st March 2026
  • Summary: WOMAN PLAYING DRUM WOMAN MAKING VICTORY SIGNS WITH HANDS / OCALAN POSTER IN BACKGROUND (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) KURDISH MAN CELEBRATING NOWRUZ, (NO NAME GIVEN), SAYING:     "If they (the Turkish state) really want peace with us, they need to be really sincere. This process has been going on for nearly a year, no step has been taken by the state or the system. They only expect
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: KURDS NOWRUZ PEACE PROCESS PKK SPRING FESTIVAL TURKEY
  • Location: DIYARBAKIR, TURKEY
  • City: DIYARBAKIR, TURKEY
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Europe,Middle East,Military Conflicts
  • Reuters ID: LVA002621121032026RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Thousands of people in Turkey's Kurdish-majority Diyarbakir province gathered on Saturday (March 21) to celebrate Nowruz spring festival.
    People waved Kurdistan flags, held giant banners of jailed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) Abdullah Ocalan and jailed prominent pro-Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtas and danced at the annual gathering.
    "If they (the Turkish state) really want peace with us, they need to be really sincere," said one man, declining to give his name. "This process has been going on for nearly a year, no step has been taken by the state or the system. They only expect something from us."
    The traditional Nowruz fire was lit in the celebration area, where politicians also made speeches to the thousands gathered for the festivities.
    (Production: Ismet Mikailogullari, Ali Kucukgocmen)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2026. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Audio restrictions: This clip's Audio includes copyrighted material. User is responsible for obtaining additional clearances before publishing the audio contained in this clip.
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