Peace Mothers in Van have joined the massive hunger strikes to call attention to the isolation imposed on Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan who is held in High Security Prison on İmralı Island.

Following a demonstration, members of Van Peace Mothers Assembly started hunger strike in the office of the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) where a banner reading “Isolation will fail, freedom will prevail” was hanged.

Speaking on behalf of Peace Mothers, Van Peace Mothers Assembly member Kewe Işık said; “Mr. Abdullah Öcalan is unlawfully held in İmralı Prison for 18 years now. The state keeps silent instead of making us an explanation. We will break the isolation through our hunger strike. Access to İmralı should be enabled and doors of the İmralı Prison should be opened immediately.”

HDP Deputy Co-Chair Nadir Yıldırım, HDP Van provincial co-chairs Ümit Dede and Yadişen Karabulak, DBP Party Assembly member Hacer Özdemir, HDP Party Assembly member Özgür Zeydanoğlu, representatives of Democratic Society Congress (DTK), activists from TJA (Free Women’s Movement) and local people paid a visit to Peace Mothers in solidarity with their hunger strike for Öcalan.