The Freedom for Öcalan Vigil in front of the European Council in Strasbourg has reached its 358th week.

Last week, the Vigil was taken over by the European Kurdish Women's Movement (TJK-E), while this week will be the turn of activists Rojdagül Taylan, Mehmet Serdar, Musa Ağırman and Sabri Taylan from Hamburg.

Sabri Taylan, speaking on behalf of the group, drew attention to the critical stage reached by the hunger strike resistance demanding the end of isolation against Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan.

Taylan said that the Kurdish people and progressive democratic people have a big role in this process. “The situation of thousands of people who are on hunger strike for our leadership and for his freedom is critical. Ignoring this is to be blind.”

Emphasizing that everyone should put his hand on his conscience the group spokesman called for action to break the silence surrounding this historic resistance. 

Call to the European Council and the CPT

The members of the group reminded that the Vigil will continue until Öcalan is freed, and call on the European Council and the CPT to take their responsibility and fulfil their duty. 

The Freedom for Öcalan Vigil was launched on 25 June 2012. 

The Vigil has been carried on uninterruptedly from 8 am to 5 pm every day and has been joined by over 2,000 people, including artists, politicians, journalists and representatives of Kurdish institutions.