Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) MPs have started a vigil in the DTK building to protest the isolation imposed upon Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Ocalan and to support the hunger strikes.

Two HDP MPs will take on the vigil every day, with participation from MPs Dersim Dag, Saliha Aydeniz, Semra Guzel, Ridvan Turan, Musa Farisogullari and Tulay Hatimogullari as well as HDP Amed Co-mayorial candidate Selcuk Mizrakli.

HDP Amed MP Dersim Dag said DTK Co-chair Leyla Guven has been on a hunger strike for 85 days with the demand that the isolation be ended and stressed that the vigil was started to support Leyla Guven.

HDP MP Tulay Hatimogullari said Guven is the will of the Kurdish people and continued: “There was another MP in a similar situation, and the law was used in a one-sided manner, putting Leyla Guven on trial on remand. Enis Berberoglu was released much earlier. The law is used in a double standard in Turkey. We see how the law works when it comes to democratic forces.” Hatimogullari said Leyla Guven’s hunger strike isn’t for a personal demand: “She continues her protest, demanding an end to the isolation imposed upon Mr. Ocalan. Isolation is a blatant violation of human rights. Leyla Guven has put her body on the line to end the isolation against Kurdish people’s leader Mr. Ocalan. Prisoners have started indefinite hunger strikes.”

Hatimogullari said isolation is a crime against humanity and must be lifted: “We are facing an isolation against those who fight the class struggle, the women’s struggle and the youth’s struggle. We state once more that Leyla Guven’s protest is rightful and we stand by it. The spread of hunger strikes also aims to break the rut Turkey is in. Leyla Guven is right, the isolation must end.”

HDP MP Ridvan Turan said: “The isolation is against Mr. Ocalan in Imrali, and against all diverse voices, all those who don’t think the same with the government block. What do Leyla Guven and other hunger strikers demand? We are here because we say no to an ancient practice that goes against democracy, peace and fraternity. This isolation in place since 2015 is against everybody in the country. Turkey must comply with at least their own laws. It is clear what should be done. The isolation shows how lacking the state is in implementing its own laws.

This protest will continue for 10 days. Considering the hunger strikes in critical condition, considering the silence by the state, those who govern the country must take responsibility at once. The political culprits will be the ones who stay silent about the hunger strikes closing in on the 90th day.”

Turan issued a warning for the government, saying that “isolation policies must end”, and stressed that they will continue the fight to end the isolation. The vigil started after the speeches.