In early 2025, I traveled to Diyarbakır, also known as Amed to the Kurdish people. I went there mainly to attend the Newroz celebrations, which mark the arrival of spring, but along the way I also encountered incredible Kurdish people and heard stories that stayed with me. Newroz often has a strong political tone, with flags and symbols representing different Kurdish movements, and in some years it has even led to clashes with Turkish police and for that reason, security at the entrance was kind of strict.

 

 

Still what left the deepest impression on me wasn’t the politics, but the richness of Kurdish culture on the event. The traditional dances, the stunning costumes, and the sea of red, yellow, and green were unforgettable, but above all it was the Kurdish chants, which sadly can’t be captured in photos. If they could, oh dear gods, they would be the most powerful photos I have taken.