Members of the German Education and Science Syndicate (GEW) visited the 14 Kurdish activists on hunger strike in Strasbourg and called on German people and government to call for the end of isolation against Abdullah Öcalan.

GEW teachers from Munich, Oldenburg and Frankfurt met with Yüksel Koç, co-chair of the Kurdish Democratic Society Congress (KCDK-E) and one of the 14 activists on hunger strike in Strasbourg.

The German trade union delegation included Margot Simoneit, Birgit Zwiekirsch, Christian Katz and Heinrich Becker.

Speaking during the visit, one of the GEW members, Birgit Zwiekirsch, said the delegation had come to Strasbourg to offer their support and solidarity to the hunger strikers.

The teachers also stated that in many cities of Germany, members of their unions followed the action and supported the resistance.

Speaking on behalf of the hunger strikers, Yüksel Koç said that isolation against the Kurdish People's Leader is also directed towards Kurds, democracy and equality. Noting that since April 2015 isolation has become much heavier, Koç also said that Kurds have been massacred in many cities, since then.

The KCDK-E co-chair added that their struggle is for the equality and democracy of all peoples, and underlined that it is important for the hunger strikers to receive international solidarity.

Teachers shared their view

After the visit Margot Simoneit told ANF: “Germany should stop considering the PKK as a terrorist organization.”

Birgit Zwiekirsch: “It is important that the German people are informed about what is going on in Turkey and about the repression against the Kurdish people and democratic forces.”

Christian Katz: “I greet these people who put their lives at risk to protect other people's lives. German democratic forces must unite and support this action.”

Heinrich Becker: “I have brought the greetings of the GEW Hesse State Administration. Our Hessian government supports this action against the isolation of Öcalan and all other prisoners.”