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SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN, Germany - The Kurdish New Year (Newroz) was celebrated in the Schleswig-Holstein state parliament in northern Germany with Kurdish music on Monday.
Remarks from the state's interior minister, the leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) faction, and a Kurdish lawmaker were made during the event.
"I see that this idea has special importance for the Kurdish diaspora, to celebrate together with all of us here in the state parliament building. This happens once a year and we are very happy that we can host it," Tobias Koch, leader of CDU faction at the local parliament, told Rudaw.
"Three years ago, we celebrated Newroz together here. Three years ago, the celebration was smaller. This year is the first time we have dancing and music. The celebration has grown very beautifully. It's very nice and I think all guests are very impressed," he added.
The Schleswig-Holstein region in northern Germany has a parliament with 69 seats. The only Kurdish member of parliament is Seyran Papo, who brought the Newroz celebration to the state parliament.
Seyran Papo is the only Kurdish lawmaker in the state's parliament.
"Our Kurdish people are like Germans. They have been living here for a long time and own the state. They are no different from Germans. We are Kurds. Our hearts could be in Kurdistan but we are here. We have not forgotten our tradition. Therefore, we want to revive our Kurdish tradition, language, culture, art, and [traditional] clothing in Schleswig-Holstein parliament together during Newroz," she said.
Approximately 10,000 Kurds live in this region.
Remarks from the state's interior minister, the leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) faction, and a Kurdish lawmaker were made during the event.
"I see that this idea has special importance for the Kurdish diaspora, to celebrate together with all of us here in the state parliament building. This happens once a year and we are very happy that we can host it," Tobias Koch, leader of CDU faction at the local parliament, told Rudaw.
"Three years ago, we celebrated Newroz together here. Three years ago, the celebration was smaller. This year is the first time we have dancing and music. The celebration has grown very beautifully. It's very nice and I think all guests are very impressed," he added.
The Schleswig-Holstein region in northern Germany has a parliament with 69 seats. The only Kurdish member of parliament is Seyran Papo, who brought the Newroz celebration to the state parliament.
Seyran Papo is the only Kurdish lawmaker in the state's parliament.
"Our Kurdish people are like Germans. They have been living here for a long time and own the state. They are no different from Germans. We are Kurds. Our hearts could be in Kurdistan but we are here. We have not forgotten our tradition. Therefore, we want to revive our Kurdish tradition, language, culture, art, and [traditional] clothing in Schleswig-Holstein parliament together during Newroz," she said.
Approximately 10,000 Kurds live in this region.
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