François Alfonsi, a former MP for the Corsican Nation Party (PNC), shared his comments in Strasbourg where he went to visit the hunger strikers demanding the end of isolation against Abdullah Öcalan.

The hunger strikers are on their 70th day and concern is growing over their health situation.

Alfonsi referred to a letter sent by the six French MPs to Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on the hunger strike in Strasbourg.

The letter underlined that 14 activists are on hunger strike since 17 December in Strasbourg, demanding the end of isolation against Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan and that isolation was in breach of any international law.

Alfonsi recalled that during the period when the letter was sent, 7 activists were in critical condition and the co-chair of the KCDK-E Yüksel Koç was taken to the hospital.

Alfonsi reiterated the demand of the protesters to end the isolation of Abdullah Öcalan, who has been imprisoned in Turkey for 20 years. He noted that the hunger strike in Strasbourg followed the one launched by HDP Hakkari MP Leyla Guven.

Alfonsi, who reminded that the Kurds living in Europe had carried out a great march in Strasbourg last week, said: “Kurdish militants are extraordinarily determined and ready to sacrifice themselves. Fidan Dogan, who represented them during my parliamentary duty in the EP, was murdered in 2013 by Turkish secret service personnel. The great march in Strasbourg at that time was also dedicated to this massacre, and it was so massive. The Kurdish people continue to struggle here in the diaspora and in Kurdistan.”

Media silence and threats to invade Rojava

Alfonso condemned the silence of the media and institutions and added that “this silence also applies to the threats carried out by the Turkey state to invade Rojava.”

Alfonsi drew attention to the threats of occupation by the Turkish state to the autonomous administrative region of Rojava, just after American President Donald Trump's statement to withdraw his troops from Syria.

Alfonsi criticised France's policy and said the entire Middle East situation should be addressed in a different way in Europe, recognising the true friends and condemning authoritarian regimes who are oppressing their people, especially women.