“Several tens of thousands” of people attended a mainly peaceful celebration of the Kurdish New Year in the German city of Cologne on Saturday, police said after the event.
Crowds gathered at a site directly on the Rhine River, singing, dancing and drumming on an occasion that was “largely free of disruption and in compliance with the regulations,” according to a press release.
However, two officers were slightly injured in disturbances. These included a direct attack on an officer who had approached a man holding a prohibited flag of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Other minor incidents occurred as police seized PKK symbolry. The rally was also interrupted several times due to the large number of participants and overcrowding in the area.
Kurds wave a large Kurdistan flag during a vibrant Newroz celebration in Cologne. pic.twitter.com/ChZ87npTpH
— Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) March 22, 2025
The event had been organized under the slogan “Newroz – Solidarity with the Kurds in northern Syria.”
Newroz is the Kurdish New Year, which marks the beginning of spring. For Kurds, it is also a symbol of political resistance.
(dpa)