DTK co-chair and HDP Hakkari MP Leyla Güven has launched the hunger strike resistance which has then spread to Turkey and North Kurdistan prisons as well as to Europe, Kurdistan and Canada.

Germany's opposition party Die Linke in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg has declared its support for the action.

In a written statement, Die Linke urged the Turkish state to end isolation against Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan in Imrali. The party also urged Turkey to release all political prisoners, academics, writers, journalists as well as HDP co-chairs Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ, Amed Municipal co-mayor Gülten Kışanak and artist Hozan Canê.

Die Linke underlined that the Turkish state violated the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) by imposing isolation on Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan who, it added, has been cut off from the outside world, and added that all rights should be granted to him.

Support for the HDP

Die Linke criticised the approach of the Federal Government towards the developments in Turkey and said: "Arms sales to Turkey should be stopped immediately. The criminalization policy for those in solidarity with the Kurds in Germany should end and the ban on the PKK should be lifted.”

Reminding that local elections will be held on 31 March, Die Linke wished success to the HDP and added: “We hope you will reclaim your place and expel the trustees who have been imposed by the State. You are the hope for Turkey's democratization and the possibility for people to live in peace.”