The Hunger Strike Prison Initiative held a press conference in Gebze on the 69th day of fast by DTK co-chair and HDP Hakkari MP Leyla Güven.

HDP Kocaeli MP Ömer Gergerlioğlu, HDP Istanbul provincial and district executives joined the press conference despite the police pressure.

During the action, it was reiterated by participants that “Leyla Güven’s demand is our demand”.

HDP deputy Gergerlioğlu reiterated the right of Leyla Güven to seat in Parliament like the other 600 deputies.

"Leyla Güven - said Gergerlioğlu - has raised her voice not for her mandate but to demand the end of isolation. She is in pursuit of an extremely honorable demand: peace and and honourable life for the people of this land."

‘We are going nowhere if the Kurdish question in Turkey is not solved'

Gergerlioğlu noted that Leyla Güven is on the 69th day of hunger strike, putting her life at risk. He added that 236 political prisoners are also on hunger strike in different jails and reiterated that if the Kurdish question is not solved, Turkey will go nowhere.

‘If isolation is not lifted, death will follow’

Gergerlioğlu added: “Listen to the honorable resistance of Leyla Güven. She is walking towards death and if the isolation is not lifted death will follow.”

Drawing attention to the political genocide carried out against the HDP, Gergerlioğlu reminded the illegal detention of former co-chairs Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ, hostages of this policy.

Isolation in Imrali is a great crime

Following the HDP deputy, Yasemin Üçer, member of the HDP Darıca executive, read the statement on behalf of the Hunger Strikes Prison Initiative.

Reminding that isolation is a crime against humanity, Üçer added: “The isolation regime imposed on Mr. Öcalan is something unseen in the world. For 3 years he had no contact with his lawyers and family.”

Call to the international community

Üçer called on the international public opinion to “put pressure on the Republic of Turkey. In particular health and legal organizations, professional chambers, associations, all civil society organisations should speak out as the hunger strike carried out by prisoners is already beyond the critical point. The State should guarantee the proper medical attention to prisoners on hunger strike and supply them with Vitamin B1.”

‘Don’t be part of this crime, speak out’

Üçer said that “We have now entered the days of no return for Leyla Güven. We urge the democratic mass organizations to immediately speak out and reclaim the demand of Leyla Güven.”