The 14 Kurdish activists on hunger strike in Strasbourg have reached day 131 of their indefinite and non-alternating hunger strike. 

They have joined the hunger strike resistance led by HDP Hakkari MP Leyla Güven demanding the end of isolation against Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan.

The hunger strike resistance of the 14 members of the Freedom for Öcalan Initiative was launched on 17 December 2018, with the slogan ‘Let’s break isolation, let’s destroy fascism’.

Serhat Agiri, a member of the organizing committee of the hunger strike action in Strasbourg, underlined that support to the resistance, especially by the mothers of the prisoners, will be effective in breaking the isolation.

Speaking to ANF, Agiri talked about the health status of the activists, as well as public support and how to mobilize the institutions that could say something about isolation. 

Serhat Agiri reminded that 14 activists on indefinite hunger strike have run into irrevocable health conditions. “We are at day 131 of fast, so we can say that activists have entered a process in which no return to their pre-hunger strike conditions is possible.”

Agiri acknowledged that many people, politicians, Kurdish and Turkish institutions, members of the European Parliament, human rights defenders and lawyers have all been visiting the hunger strikers. 

"Institutions and public opinion in Turkey and Europe are also to blame for isolation"

Serhat Agiri pointed out that the isolation of Öcalan and the continuity of the isolation policies against him could not be dealt with independently from the attitude of European institutions like the European Parliament (EP) and the ECtHR.

“In fact, - he said - these institutions are the executive power of isolation. Isolation in Turkey is not only carried out by the Turkish state, it has partners in crime. Turkey’s partners are the international conspiratorial forces and some institutions. If these institutions were to fulfil their mission seriously, it would be impossible for this isolation to last so long.”

Serhat Agiri stated that while the support for the hunger strikers remains inadequate, to increase the actions is of great importance because this puts pressure on these institutions, which will lead to some changes in their general policies.

Agiri emphasized that the actions of prisoners' relatives like those of the mothers were important and added that the Turkish state's attitude towards mothers was immoral. 

Critical stage 

Serhat Agiri said: “It is time to take the actions to a higher level. Because the circumstances that will develop after this will not be reversible. The hunger strikers have been fasting for many days now, 170 for Leyla Guven, 131 for Strasbourg and 132 for prisons.”

It is time, said Agiri, “for people to step up resistance and embrace the hunger strikers so that isolation could be broken.”