German Left Party calls for immediate action for Leyla Güven

A delegation of the HDP visited yesterday the parliamentary group of the German Left Party DIE LINKE. The members of parliament said that something must be done immediately as the hunger strike by Leyla Güven has reached a critical phase.

A delegation of former members of parliament and the German representation of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) has held talks with representatives of various factions in the German Parliament Bundestag throughout the week. The meetings focused on the hunger strike of imprisoned HDP MP Leyla Güven, who is on the 72nd day of her fast, demanding an end to the isolation regime on Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan.

After visits to the Greens and the SPD, the HDP delegation met with members of the Left Party (Die Linke). The meeting, which took place in a climate of solidarity, was attended by the German Left Party Deputy Group Chairman Tobias Pflüger and Andrej Hunko, Heike Hänsel, Gökay Akbulut, Helin Evrim Sommer, Ulla Jelpke and Diether Dehm, as well as Rosa Luxemburg Foundation representatives.

The HDP delegation included former MPs Ziya Pir, Faysal Sarıyıldız and Sibel Yiğitalp, as well as Sinan Önal and Muhammet Kaya from the party's German representation.

Former HDP MP Faysal Sarıyıldız said: "Leyla Güven's hunger strike, which I know you are watching closely, has been going on for over 70 days and the she is now in a very critical condition. She has difficulty breathing and can no longer receive a visit from her lawyers. We could get bad news any moment."

Sarıyıldız continued, "Her main claim is for Mr. Öcalan, whom the Kurdish people consider representative of their will. After the visit of Ocalan's brother to Imrali, we only know that he is still alive. The brother of the PKK leader was able to pay Öcalan a short visit last Saturday. Previously, for two and a half years, there was no sign of life from the four prisoners on Imrali prison island.”

Sarıyıldız referred to Öcalan's role in the peace and resolution process, emphasizing that Öcalan could make an important contribution to restarting a similar process.

Hunko: Why is Güven not in the German press?

The deputy of DIE LINKE Andrej Hunko said it was noticeable that Güven's action was in no way taken up by the German press. According to him, this clearly shows that they have to fight even more shoulder to shoulder and bring the issue more strongly onto the political agenda. Hunko announced that the situation and demand of Leyla Güven would be brought to the agenda of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

The other MPs of the German Left Party stressed the importance of the HDP in the democratization of Turkey and the enforcement of human rights and declared their solidarity. In particular, the women deputies announced that all the feminist groups within the Left Party are trying to bring the situation of Leyla Güven to the agenda.

The Left Party officials stated that they are planning to send a delegation to monitor the hearing of Leyla Güven due to be held on January 25.