Members of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) and PAJK (Party of Free Women in Kurdistan) imprisoned in Turkey went on hunger strike on 27 November in support of the international campaign "Freedom for Öcalan, A Political Solution to the Kurdish Question". According to the prisoners' representative, Deniz Kaya, the hunger strike is carried out in alternating groups and will continue until 15 February, the anniversary of the international conspiracy against Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan.

The Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) Izmir Provincial Organisation started a 3-day hunger strike on Wednesday to support the ongoing hunger strikes in prisons and the Justice Vigil started by prisoners' relatives.

ESP members started the action by visiting the Justice Vigil organised by the Aegean Association for Assistance with Families of Prisoners and Convicts (EGE TUHAYDER) and the Free Women’s Movement (Tevgera Jinên Azad, TJA) at DBP (Democratic Regions Party) Izmir Provincial Representative Office.

Prisons are “torture centres"

ESP Izmir provincial executive Hızır Ali Kılıç said that R, S and Y type prisons are "torture centres" where the government applies systematic torture. Pointing out that those who want to show solidarity with prisoners are also detained, Kılıç said, "Yesterday morning, our provincial chairman Kerim Altınmakas and many of our comrades were detained in house raids because they made prison visits. We are raising our voice to increase solidarity with the prisoners, and we will do more than we can."

We salute the honourable resistance

Pointing out that a special isolation is imposed on Abdullah Öcalan, Kılıç said that despite this, the Kurdish people are expanding their resistance. Referring to the hunger strikes initiated by political prisoners in prisons, Kılıç said, "Prisoners' families continue their resistance with justice vigils in Kurdistan and metropolises. We salute this honourable resistance with our sincerest feelings. It is your resistance that will lead us to victory. This struggle will continue until the isolation is broken. We are starting a hunger strike here today against the isolation of political prisoners. We also call on all human rights organisations and political parties to enhance this struggle and break this isolation together. Let's not be a partner in crime by remaining silent."