NEWROZ CELEBRATIONS BEGUN

Newroz photos from Yahoo News.






Masked demonstrators wave Kurdish flags as they display a poster of the jailed rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan during the Nowruz celebrations in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, March 19, 2006. Thousands of Kurds shouting slogans in praise of imprisoned Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan demonstrated across Turkey to mark the Nowruz spring festival. (AP Photo/Murad Sezer)





Kurdish women are reflected on a pool during the Nowruz celebrations in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, March 19, 2006. (AP Photo/Murad Sezer)






Demonstrators flash V-victory signs as they display Kurdish flags and posters of the jailed rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan during the Nowruz celebrations in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, March 19, 2006. (AP Photo/Murad Sezer)




Young Kurdish demonstrators burn tires to make a barricade against patrolling riot police in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, March 19, 2006. (AP Photo/Osman Orsal)




A Kurdish demonstrator throws stones at patrolling police vehicle in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, March 19, 2006. (AP Photo/Osman Orsal)




Demonstrators hold a poster of rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan and a flag of the outlawed guerrilla group PKK as they gather around a fire during the Nowruz celebrations in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, March 19, 2006. (AP Photo/Murad Sezer)




A young demonstrator holds a poster of jailed Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan during the Nowruz celebrations in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, March 19, 2006. (AP Photo)




A Kurdish woman flashes V-victory signs as the others gather around a fire during the Nowruz celebrations in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, March 19, 2006. (AP Photo/Murad Sezer)




A Kurdish girl jumps over a traditional bonfire during a gathering attended by tens of thousands Kurds in Istanbul March 19, 2006, to celebrate Newroz, the new year or spring festival. Kurdish residents celebrate Newroz, which takes place on March 21, marking the arrival of spring. (REUTERS/Fatih Saribas)




Demonstrators wave Kurdish flags as they chant slogans during the Nowruz celebrations in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, March 19, 2006. (AP Photo)




Human tower : Turkish Kurds make a human tower and chant slogans during the celebrations of the Kurdish new year festival Newroz in the Mediterranean city of Mersin. (AFP/Mustafa Ozer)




Demonstrators hold a poster of rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan and a flag of the outlawed guerrilla group PKK as they gather around a fire during the Nowruz celebrations in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, March 19, 2006. (AP Photo/Murad Sezer)




Exiled Iranian Kurds, members of the outlawed Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, dance around the fire in celebration of the Nawroz, the New Year, in their camp on the outskirts of Koya, Iraqi Kurdistan region, 350 kilometers (219 miles) north of Baghdad, Monday March 20, 2006. (AP Photo/Sasa Kralj)




Kurdish children in their traditional dress celebrate Nawroz, the New Year, in Kirkuk, 290 kilometers (180 miles) north of Baghdad, Iraq, Monday March 20, 2006. (AP Photo/Yahya Ahmed)




Exiled Iranian Kurds, members of the outlawed Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, dance around the fire in celebration of Nawroz, the New Year, in their camp on the outskirts of Koya, Iraqi Kurdistan region, 350 kilometers (219 miles) north of Baghdad, Monday March 20, 2006. (AP Photo/Sasa Kralj)



Also found on Yahoo News is a pretty good report by National Public Radio on Kurds under Turkish-occupation. You can listen here.

KurdishInfo is carrying much news on celebrations in Turkish-occupied Kurdistan. From DIHA News, KurdishInfo reports 30,000 people celebrated in Sêrt, 30,000 in Kiziltepe, hundreds in Dersim (Tunceli) and Êlih (Batman), and thousands in Çewlîk (Bingol), who called for Kurdish to be recognized as one of the official languages of Turkey. DIHA also reports over 200,000 people participated in the Istanbul celebrations.

Newroz festivities are causing concern at TDN.

On the legal side of things, DTP is going to challenge the Turkish state in the ECHR to "free" the forbidden letters, as reported by The New Anatolian.

Ilnur, take the check to the bank.