The Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Istanbul branch organized a press conference to draw attention to the ongoing hunger strikes led by Leyla Güven.

DTK co-chair and HDP Hakkari MP Leyla Güven has been on hunger strike for 83 days demanding the end of isolation against Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan. Since her action, hundreds of prisoners and activists around Kurdistan and Europe have gone on hunger strike to support her demand.

DBP Istanbul branch co-chairs Emine Caynak and Ali Riza Bilgili, DBP member Gülüm Bayram, as well as members of the DBP province and district branches joined the press conference at the DBP provincial building in Istanbul.

The DBP executives said that they are organising a rally at Bakırköy Freedom Square on 3 February.  

Öcalan is the leader of a people

Gülüm Bayram reminded that Kurds have always gone through extraordinary processes and added that today's process is the sum of the past ones. Bayram emphasized that the DTK co-chair and HDP Hakkari MP Leyla Güven actually interfered with this status quo by going on a hunger strike quickly picked up by hundreds.

Bayram said that the hunger strikers’ demands are not ordinary. “These demands are purely political and social demands. They demand the removal of absolute isolation against Mr Öcalan. Without the removal of isolation this country cannot be normalized and peace and democracy cannot happen.”

Öcalan, added Bayram, “is not an ordinary figure. He is the leader of a people.”

Response to the CPT

Criticizing the insensitive attitude of the CPT towards the hunger strikes, Bayram pointed out that this insensitivity is alarming and the continuation of the international conspiracy. "The hunger strikes initiated by our friends are not for themselves. They are an outward-looking message.”

Call for participation

Bayram ended by saying: “The society needs to ask itself a question: Is a free Öcalan beneficial to the society? We think the answer is clear.”

Bayram called on everyone to join the mass ‘Labor, Peace, Justice Rally’ on 3 February at 1 pm at Bakırköy Freedom Square in Istanbul.

Ali Rıza Bilgili, DBP Provincial co-chair, said that during the ‘Solution Process’ there was not a single drop a blood spelled.

Bilgili reminded that then, the society had found peace, until the process was buried and the country was once again dragged into chaos and darkness.

The only solution to these problems, said Bilgili, is the removal of isolation in Imrali. “The only person who can carry out a peaceful and democratic solution is the Kurdish People's Leader. - said the DBP co-chair - Beginning talks with the Kurdish People's Leader will be beneficial for everyone. It is the Kurdish People's Leader who will determine the process ".