On 14 July 1982, a death fast began in the prison known as "the hell of Amed". With society outside still in shock after the 1980 military coup, the prisoners launched a campaign of resistance. The action is considered the initial spark and a revolutionary sign that fuelled the resistance in North Kurdistan. 55 days after the death fast began, PKK cadre Kemal Pir lost his life. Prisoners Mehmet Hayri Durmuş, Ali Çiçek and Akif Yılmaz also died in the course of the action. The Death Fast has since been referred to as the "Great Resistance of 14 July".

On the 40th anniversary of the beginning of the Death Fast, the PKK Executive Committee commemorated the resistance and called 14 July the day on which "the decision to live freely in the face of all enslavement, betrayal and abandonment" was taken. It was the 'Day of National dignity”. At the same time, the PKK recalled the importance of 14 July for the struggle today.

"National Dignity Day"

The PKK statement reads as follows: “We as the Kurdistan Freedom Movement and the Kurdish people are celebrating the fortieth anniversary of the victorious death fast resistance of 14 July 1982. We declare 14 July the day on which the historic decision for a free life against all types of slavery, treason and surrender was taken. On this basis, we salute all our comrades, especially Rêber Apo [Abdullah Öcalan], our people and our friends on this day and wish them success in the 41st year of struggle after this historic date. We remember with respect, love and gratitude Mehmet Hayri Durmuş, Kemal Pir, Ali Çiçek and Akif Yılmaz, who gave us dignity as a movement and a people. We reaffirm our promise to achieve their goals and keep their memory alive.

"Ideological Victory over Fascism"

As is well known, all the values ​​created in the last forty years in the name of freedom in Kurdistan were won on the basis of the great prison resistance of 1982. The Newroz prison resistance launched by Mazlum Doğan in 1982 and carried out by the four comrades (Kemal Pir, Mehmet Hayri Durmuş, Ali Çiçek and Akif Yılmaz) on 17 May, which culminated in the Great Death Fast on 14 July, represents an ideological victory, as well as the decision, taken in Amed prison, to resist for freedom and democracy against the fascist military regime of 12 September 1980. The next step was the implementation of this historic decision for popular and guerrilla resistance in the prisons, the mountains, the cities and abroad.

“All achievements stem from this resistance”

Rêber Apo said: We have become a group based on the promises we made to people like Mahir (Çayan), Deniz (Gezmiş) and Ibrahim (Kaypakkaya), with the promise to Haki (Karer), Mazlûm (Doğan). The PKK was founded and the start of the guerrilla war on 15 August 1984 happened as a result of our promise to the resistance on 14 July.

Everything that has been achieved in the last forty years in the name of freedom in Kurdistan is the result of this struggle waged on the basis of this historic decision.

"Resistance under all circumstances"

The great prison resistance of 1982 in general and the 14 July death fast in particular have defined the line and style of the Kurdish freedom struggle. The great commitment to the freedom of the country and the people, the unshakable belief in the apoistic truth, the great courage and sacrifice, the deep sense of responsibility and duty to history are the most important characteristics of this lineage.

“Zap, Avaşîn and Metîna and all of Kurdistan have become the grave of the AKP-MHP fascism”

Today, our movement and our people are resisting and winning on the 14 July line. The freedom guerrillas of Kurdistan, which for three months has been waging a relentless struggle of the greatest historical importance in Zap, Avaşîn and Metîna, relies on the line of the 14 July death fast. If you look closely, you can see that precisely because it is fighting on this line and resisting at all costs, it is dealing fatal blows to AKP/MHP fascism. Therefore, Zap, Avaşîn and Metîna and all Kurdistan will become the grave for AKP-MHP fascism, fascist mentality and politics. The Kurdish freedom guerrillas and the people show their invincible strength to all people in the world. The guerrillas write the most important epics of courage for the Kurdish people and humanity.

"YJA Star leads the resistance as a sharp sword of freedom"

On this basis, we again salute the HPG and YJA Star guerrillas who are fighting the most important war of freedom in history all over Kurdistan, especially in Zap, Avaşîn and Metîna. We commemorate all the brave martyrs of this sacred resistance with respect, love and gratitude. We greet in particular the commanders and fighting units of the women's guerrilla YJA Star, who, as the sharp sword of freedom, lead the resistance in all areas and, with their successes under the most difficult conditions, announce the victory of the women's revolution. We wish you success.

"The Time for Freedom offensive is growing"

Our patriotic people and our revolutionary-democratic friends, engaged in a non-stop resistance struggle in four parts of Kurdistan and abroad, are fighting on the 14 July Resistance Line. The historical resistance of people like Mazlûm, Kemal, Hayri and Sakine (Cansız) in Amed prison forty years ago is a source of inspiration for the women, young people and all workers who are struggling everywhere today. On this basis, our 'Time for Freedom' offensive, aimed at Abdullah Öcalan's physical freedom, is getting stronger every day. We salute our patriotic people, especially women and young people, and all our revolutionary-democratic friends and congratulate them for their clear and combative stance. We wish them great success.

We, as a movement and as a people, welcome the anniversary of the Death Fast Resistance. We declare that on the 14 July line we will make massive resistance and win great victories. It is perfectly clear that the year in which the fascist AKP-MHP dictatorship will be destroyed and will land in the dustbin of history has begun. We know that this year is full of dangers, but also full of opportunities. If we use the opportunities properly and prevent the dangers, then we will definitely create a free Kurdistan and a democratic Turkey. At this point, we warn all NATO powers and other states, especially the US and European states, to stop participating in the genocide of the Kurds by supporting the collapsing AKP-MHP fascism. We call on all Kurdish collaborators, especially the KDP, to stop participating in the attacks of the AKP-MHP fascism. Because no matter what these forces do, AKP-MHP fascism will collapse and then they too will be buried under the rubble.

"Increasing the fight against the torture system on Imrali"

Recently, various speculations about the situation in Imrali and Abdullah Öcalan have been made by some hegemonic circles in Turkey. We are following these statements with great attention. But this situation also shows how dependent these circles are on Rêber Apo. This makes it clear that they have become so weak that they hope to benefit from an alleged split and dissolution of the Kurdistan freedom movement. What we learn from these allegations is that the pressure on Rêber Apo continued to escalate. Based on this, we call on all our people to pay attention and advance the fight against Imrali system of torture and isolation.

"Heavy attacks ahead"

Although the process of its collapse is accelerating, it is clear that AKP-MHP fascism will try to further increase its repression and terrorist attacks, massacres and invasions. Attacks on Maxmur, Shengal, Rojava and especially on the Medya Defense Areas may increase further. This can also put a new invasion on the agenda, especially in Northern and Eastern Syria. We call on our people and their freedom forces to take even greater precautionary measures in all areas and to stand up to the murderous enemy even more vigorously. We are convinced that the peoples and freedom forces of Northern and Eastern Syria will not let the enemy get through and will successfully resist a possible new invading attack. We want them to know that the support of our people and our democratic friends will be with them in all four parts of Kurdistan and abroad.

We call on our patriotic people and their democratic friends, especially women and youth, to clearly understand the 14 July Resistance Line and the struggle to overthrow AKP-MHP fascism based on this line in all areas to develop further!"