The 4-day hunger strike held by Syriacs living in the Midyat district of Mardin for the recognition of the Seyfo genocide is continuing in its 3rd day. The strikers were visited yesterday by representatives of the HDP, DTK, and trade unions as well as mayors and local people.

Representatives from Eğitim-Sen (educators’ trade union) stressed during their visit that the Seyfo genocide must be recognised, while referring to the democratic model in Rojava as a model of co-existence.

Representatives from the Democratic Society Congress (DTK) also visited the Syriacs on hunger strike and offered support. DTK representatives said the Syriac and Kurdish people can stand together against repression with all other oppressed communities. The DTK representatives also said the Seyfo genocide must be recognised.

The strikers were also visited by former the Gercüş co-mayor, who said it was a shame that there is no one else from a different community in the hunger strike, adding that he will participate in the strike on 22 April. Idil co-mayors also visited the strikers to lend their support for the recognition of the genocide.

Syriac Orthodox Church Priest, Dell Johnson, who came from the US to support the strikers, prayed in Syriac and said later that he had returned to his homeland Turabdin to help the people.

Representatives from the HDP and DBP also paid a visit in support of the strike and stressed the necessity of the genocide being recognised and for compensation for the pain to be made.

Syriac Women’s Assembly member Aynur Özgün said they have been struggling for over 25 years for the recognition of not only the genocide, but the Syriac people as a community, adding that it is not the first nor the last time that they are holding a hunger strike as they have organised strikes many times in addition to marches and other actions in various parts of the world for many years.