London's Green Euro-MP, Jean Lambert, will join thousands of the capital's Kurds in Finsbury Park this Sunday (March 21st) to celebrate the Kurdish New Year.
Known as 'Newroz', the event announces the start of spring, a season traditionally regarded as a time of renewal. It is celebrated by the Kurdish people as an expression of their hopes for ultimate victory over oppression and tyranny.
Mrs Lambert said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for Kurds in London to make themselves heard, and for London to recognise their contribution to the multi-cultural flavour of our city. But it is also an opportunity to draw attention to the plight of Kurdish people around the world."
"The plight of the Kurds is more uncertain than ever. Newroz is about reflecting on the events which have forced many of London's Kurds into exile, as well as celebrating their New Year."
Mrs Lambert will join the capital's Kurds in demanding improvements to the prison conditions of Kurdish separatist leader Abdullah Ocalan - and access to visits from his family and lawyers. Human rights observers have criticised Turkey's treatment of Mr Ocalan, who has been held in confinement on a remote island off the Turkish coast since his arrest in 1999.
ENDS
Editors Note:
The event is organised by Kurdish community organisations in the UK including the Kurdish Community Centre, Haringey, Halkevi, and Federation of Kurdish Associations (FED-BIR) UK.
For more information contact Ben Duncan on 020 7407 6280, 07973 823358 or at press@greenmeps.org.uk