The hunger strike campaign to protest the aggravated isolation of the Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Ocalan, launched by the co-chair of the DTK, Leyla Guven, continues in the prisons of Turkey and North Kurdistan, as well as in Hewler, Wales, Strasburg, Toronto, the Hague, Maxmur Sulaymaniyah and Shengal.

Member of the HDP’s representative office in Hewler (Erbil), Nasir Yagiz is on the 65th day of his hunger strike; his health condition is worsening every hour, but he is decisive to continue the hunger strike until the isolation is totally removed.

An indefinite and non-alternating hunger strike initiated by the co-chair of the DTK and HDP MP, Leyla Guven to demand an immediate end to the isolation of the Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Ocalan, was followed by Nasir Yagiz, a Kurdish citizen from North Kurdistan currently a resident in Erbil. His hunger strike, along with multiple groups in Kurdistan and Europe continue to this day.

Leyla Guven’s indefinite and non-alternating hunger strike was launched on November 7, 2018. Nasir Yagiz, a member of HDP’s office in Erbil, KRG, went on hunger strike with the same demand beginning from November 23, 2018.

Other activists continue their indefinite hunger strikes since the following dates:

North Kurdistan prisons and Sulaymaniyah in KRG, since December 14

Maxmur region since December 16,

Strasburg since December 17,

Kurdish citizen named Imam Sis as well as other Kurdish activists since December 17,

Shengal’s Democratic Autonomous Council, Yazidi Women’s Freedom Movement and Yazidi Youth Union since January 6, 2019.

The wave of resistance was over time spread in prisons inside Turkey and North Kurdistan. There are 240 prisoners in 59 prisons currently confirmed to be on indefinite non-alternating hunger strikes.

Mustafa Tuzak who had launched an alternating hunger strike in Duisburg, Germany on January 13, announced eight days later that he decided to continue fasting indefinitely.

Kurdish activists Hasbi Cakici, Yusuf İba and Huseyin Yildiz are on indefinite and non-alternating hunger strikes in the Hague, the Netherlands.

Nasir Yagiz’s health is worsening, but he is determined to continue

Member of HDP’s representative office in Erbil, Nasır Yagiz, is determined to endure his hunger strike after 65 days despite the fact that his situation is deteriorating. A hunger strike is also taking place in Erbil and so far 33 groups have been taking turns in the action.

“His blood pressure is falling in the morning, he has headaches and experiences physical weakness. His headaches are increasing. He has lost 11 kilograms so far, and he has difficulties with drinking liquids. He is not able to stand up or walk due to loss of significant amount of energy,” said the doctor who regularly checks Yagiz’s health. The doctor urged for immediate action since the critical phase is worsening every hour.

Yagiz has sent letters to the United Nations, the European Court of Human Rights, the Committee for the Prevention of Torture and the European Council about his hunger strike.

There are daily visits to Nasir Yagiz by the citizens of North, South Kurdistan, and Maxmur region. Most recently elementary students from Maxmur expressed their feelings in a letter; which boosts Yagiz’s morale to keep on with his strike.

Hunger strike in Maxmur

The hunger strike in Maxmur started on December 16 and continues with new groups every three days. The 14th group is continuing the hunger strike at Maxmur’s Martyrs’ Families Institution. Women and youth in Maxmur are leading the hunger strike and they are also determined to endure the campaign to protest the isolation of Abdullah Ocalan.

Member of the Ishtar Council in Maxmur, Fadila Tok stated that they will speak up for Leyla Guven and her indefinite hunger strike, to defeat fascism in Turkey, “We shall be a chain of fire around leader Apo. Today Apo’s philosophy has brought free life, peace and people’s fraternity in the Middle East,” said Tok.

“As refugees at the Sehid Rustem Cudi camp in Maxmur, we will echo the resistance in the prisons with the motto ‘Defeat fascism, remove the isolation and free leader Apo’,” Tok added.

Tok expressed anger towards the silence of European states and human rights organizations, “The hunger strikers are facing death, why do you not see this? Our message out of this hunger strike is, show morality, do not let law and human rights to be violated. We the Kurdish people are determined, victory is ours,” she added.

Hunger strike in Sulaymaniyah continues

The hunger strike initiated by the Mesopotamia Workers’ Community on December 14 in Sulaymaniyah, continues with the 22nd group. Kurds from all parts of Kurdistan are taking turns for the hunger strike. A group of Kurdish activists from Rojava is currently on hunger strike.

Many Kurdish activists have paid regular visits to the hunger strikers in Sulaymaniyah, most recently, a group of PJAR from Qandil region, youths from KRG and Rojava, Yazidi people, People’s Front, Sulaymaniyah’s Art and Culture Center, Mishtenur Group from Kobane, and the Freedom Movement have met with the hunger strikers.

Day 19 of hunger strike in Shengal

Another hunger strike action is taking place in Shengal’s Khanasor region. Today Yazidi artists from Shengal’s Culture and Art institution are taking turns. The turn will last for two days and will be handed over to the next group.