Members of Freedom for Öcalan Initiative and Kurdish institutions in Europe have started 5-day hunger strike in front of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg yesterday. Participants of the hunger strike protest the aggravated isolation imposed on the Kurdish Leader Abdullah Öcalan, demand his freedom and protest the war policies imposed on Kurdistan territory.

THE ACTIVISTS

The 5-day hunger strike in front of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg is held by 16 Kurdish individuals from across Europe; Fuat Kav, who also attended the previous 52-day strike; Roza Rubar; Mahmut Şakar, member of Freedom for Öcalan Initiative and one of Öcalan’s lawyers; Cahit Kaya, representative of European Êzîdî Federation; Pir Mustafa Deprem, representative of European Democratic Alevi Federation (FEDA); Murat Ceylan, representative of KCD-E; Emel Gulo, representative of TJK-E; İsmet Serhat, Mahmut Kahraman, Özer Coşkun and Yusuf Bemal from KNK in Australia; Vedat Kaya and Havin Dersim, who also joined the first long march held in 2012; Şivan Zerdeşti, member of KNK in Brussels; Cektar Botan, member of Ciwanen Azad; Amele Şengali, representative of Tev-Çand and Remzi Kartal, co-chair of KONGRA GEL.

FILE SUBMITTED TO THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

The activists are wearing t-shirts on which it writes “We are on hunger strike”, while posters of Öcalan and a banner which reads “Freedom for Öcalan, status for the Kurdish people” have been hanged at the scene of the action. The strikers also distribute leaflets and brochures in English, French and German to provide information about the life and struggle of the Kurdish leader. The activists in the meantime submitted a file to the Council of Europe regarding the aggravated isolation imposed on Öcalan and the war policies implemented in Kurdistan.

REMZİ KARTAL: ÖCALAN MUST BE FREE

The strikers held a press conference at the beginning of their action yesterday informing about their demands and the reasons of their action. Reading out the press statement on behalf of the group, KONGRA-GEL co-chair Remzi Kartal said the Kurdish people, who stand in the middle of the Middle East territory that has turned into a a blood bath for a long period, take part at the democracy and freedom front. Kartal stressed that the Kurdish people always stand against war, dictatorship and all kinds of repressive and theocratic regimes and mindsets, adding that Öcalan has made major efforts since 90’s to make peace with the Turkish state and to pursue his struggle on the basis of democratic policies.

“We believe that Leader Abdullah Öcalan, who is waging a peace struggle in one-person cell under hostage for 17 years, must be free”, said Kartal.

'WE REMIND CONCERNED INSTITUTIONS OF THEIR WORDS'

Kartal recalled that they had previously conveyed their demand for Öcalan's freedom to the concerned institutions such as the European Parliament and CPT, and added: “The demand which we previously highlighted as activists of Geneva-Strasbourg march and 52-day hunger strike were found meaningful and reasonable, which was the reason why we suspended our actions for a while.

KONGRA GEL co-chair said they have once again gone on hunger strike today to bring their demand to the agenda, remind the European Institutions of their words since they took no action in this regard, and urge them to fulfill their duties and responsibilities on the issue.

“For Kurdish people, Öcalan’s freedom is indispensable. We demand not only the removal of the isolation imposed on Öcalan but total freedom for him”, he stressed.

Following the press conference, HDP co-chair, Selahattin Demirtaş and HDK co-spokesperson Ertuğrul Kürkçü, who were also in Strasbourg for meetings with officials of the Council of Europe, visited the activists joining the hunger strike.