Figen Yüksekdağ, former co-chair of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), who is imprisoned in Kandıra Prison since November 2016 like other co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş, has started a three-day hunger strike on Friday to support Leyla Güven.

Leyla Güven, co-chair of the DTK (Democratic Society Congress) and HDP MP for Hakkari, is on hunger strike since November 8 demanding an end to the aggravated isolation regime imposed on Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan. According to latest figures announced by human rights organizations of Turkey earlier today, 80 prisoners are on an indefinite hunger strike in 18 prisons. On 5 January 2019 hundreds of prisoners will join the indefinite hunger strike.

In addition to prisoners, numerous people from all segments of the society, from civilians to politicians, have gone on hunger strikes all around the world in solidarity with the Kurdish politician since the launch of her action, saying “Güven’s demand is our demand”.

Before Yüksekdağ, Co-mayor of Amed Metropolitan Municipality, Gültan Kışanak and Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-chair Sebahat Tuncel in the Kandıra Prison in Kocaeli had joined the hunger strike action calling for an immediate end to the isolation of the Kurdish leader.