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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-03-28 Daily Xml
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MATTERS OF INTEREST

KURDISH COMMUNITY

The Hon. J.S. LEE (15:33): I rise today to speak about the Middle Eastern Communities Council of South Australia and more specifically about the celebration dinner for Nawroz by the Kurdish Community Association. It was a great honour to be invited by Dr Borhan Saaid, the chairperson of the Middle Eastern Communities Council of South Australia, to celebrate the Kurdish New Year called Nawroz with the Kurdish community on Friday 23 March.

It was the first time I have attended such a function. I was totally immersed in the rich Kurdish culture, colourful and glamorous traditional costumes, as well as wonderful music and dance performances. I remember the evening with fond memories and would like to place on the record my sincere thanks to the South Australian Kurdish community for their generous hospitality and warm reception.

I also take this opportunity to pay tribute to Dr Borhan Saaid, the chair of the Middle Eastern Communities Council. Dr Saaid was recognised as the Volunteer Award winner of the Governor's Multicultural Awards in 2009. Honourable members in the chamber will know that the awards honour outstanding contributions to promoting social harmony and inclusivity and the positive influence of cultural diversity in the community.

Dr Borhan Saaid is a pillar of strength for the Kurdish community. He has been active in bringing together Middle Eastern communities and fostering respect and understanding across religions, most notably through Project Abraham, celebrating the common threads of the Muslim, Jewish and Christian religions. I personally would like to thank and congratulate Dr Borhan Saaid for his wonderful contributions to foster harmony within our growing multicultural society.

By participating in a Kurdish new year celebration, I learned that Nawroz is the most important festival in Kurdish tradition. Nawroz is a Persian word: 'naw' means 'new' and 'roz' means 'day', so the direct translation for Nawroz is 'new day'. For Kurds and Iranians Nawroz is the beginning of the new year. It falls on 21 March, the first day of spring. It is the sign for the new season and to welcome spring when the snow stops falling and the weather starts to warm up.

The festival symbolises the victory of light over darkness, the celebration of new life and freedom from oppression. For many Kurdish people it is the day of freedom, the history of justice and the nation's victory. While the origins of the festival date back some 5,000 years, due to cultural oppression after the division of Kurdistan, Nawroz has not been openly celebrated by the Kurds until recently. Nawroz was registered on the International Day of UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on 23 February 2010.

Many Kurdish community members who have established their base in countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia have started to celebrate Nawroz openly again. Some members of the Kurdish community around the world will use the Nawroz festival as a vehicle to campaign for human rights and freedom from oppression. This year, for example, clashes erupted during Kurdish new year celebrations in Turkey, and injuries and arrests were reported. Police fired tear gas and water cannons to prevent more than 40,000 Kurds from gathering at a main square.

Such an incident highlighted how lucky we are to be living in a democratic country like Australia. Not only do we welcome migrants in this country but also respect and celebrate their cultures and traditions as part of the rich fabric of our multicultural society. Perhaps there is no coincidence that 21 March is also Harmony Day—the same day as the Kurdish new year, Nawroz. Harmony Day is celebrated around Australia on 21 March each year and is the day where all Australians celebrate our cultural diversity. March 21 is also the United Nation's International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

I especially encourage honourable members of parliament to remember 21 March as a special day, because it is Nawroz, which is a new day, it is Harmony Day and it is United Nations International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination. To acknowledge and observe the significance of 21 March will help us preserve the democratic beliefs of Australia and its people by working hand in hand and standing shoulder to shoulder we uphold the value of freedom, human rights and justice for all South Australians.

Time expired.

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