Hunger strikers all over Europe continue to protest the aggravated isolation against Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan.

The hunger strike was launched by Democratic Society Congress (DTK) co-chair and HDP Hakkari MP Leyla Güven, when she was in Amed prison.

The HDP Hakkari MP has been released from prison on her 67th day of fast and immediately announced she would continue her action until isolation is lifted.

She has been now on hunger strike for 93 days.

Leyla Güven has been joined by hundreds of prisoners in Turkey and Kurdistan who went on hunger strike as well as by dozens of Kurdish activists in Kurdistan, Europe and Canada.

In Europe, 14 activists are on hunger strike for 52 days in Strasbourg.

In Newport, Wales, Ilhan Şiş has joined the indefinite hunger strike and he is now on day 53 of fast.

Ilhan Şiş has been on hunger strike in Wales for 53 days. Şiş has shared his thoughts with ANF.

First of all can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I am 32 and I am from Elbistan, Maraş. I have worked in the hospitality field.

I came to the UK in 2004 but only moved to Wales in 2014. I’ve been a Kurdish rights activist since I arrived in the UK.

I became more politically aware of the situation of my people when I was 15 at school by meeting some Kurdish university students in Balikesir.

These students were talking to us about the Kurdish struggle and the PKK. They had great influence on us.

On the other hand I suffered first hand discrimination in Turkey as a result of my being Kurd. In the end I decided to leave. My brother at that time joined the PKK. I came to the UK and began to study and read about Kurdish history and the PKK’s struggle.

Why did you decide to join the hunger strike?

Leyla Güven’s hunger strike was so inspiring for me, and I decided to join her action straight away.

Abdullah Öcalan is my political leader and my political will. Leyla Güven’s demand is my demand. It is in fact the demand of all Kurdish people. We want to break the isolation of our leader.

Öcalan began the struggle for Kurdish identity and Kurdish freedom. He brought the Kurds out of the darkness of forced assimilation policies of the Turkish fascist regime.

How can we, as Kurds, be free while he is isolated on a prison island?

We have to point out that the Turkish government are breaking their own laws as well as the international treaties and conventions they have signed. Allow the lawyers and legal representatives of prisoners to visit their clients in jail is a basic requisite in terms of rights of prisoners in all international laws and treaties.

Clearly the Turkish state has attempted to break our resistance. First by allowing Öcalan’s brother, Mehmet, to visit our leader in Imrali. They hoped that allowing this visit would bring the hunger strike to an end. Indeed, that was not the case. Then they tried with Leyla Güven. They released her from prison and hoped she would stop the hunger strike which was gaining more and more international attention and solidarity.

As Leyla Güven pointed out, she did not begin her hunger strike to gain her own release but to stop the isolation of Abdullah Öcalan.

Abdullah Öcalan is the Kurdish leader but he is also a critical leader in the Middle East to develop peace and democracy.

Abdullah Öcalan’s ideas and philosophy are shaping Northern Syria and his philosophy of democratic nation is being implemented and practised presently in the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria.

His ideas and philosophy are beneficial to more than just Kurdish people. His ideas of women’s freedom are freeing women in the Middle East and his ideas of radical ecology and grassroots representation are benefiting all people, not just Kurds.

Do you feel people in Europe are understanding what is going on in Kurdistan and why you and other activists are on hunger strike?

A lot has been done already by comrades and friends here in Wales, especially from Plaid Cymru and more specifically the youth movement within Plaid Cymru.

I have been contacted and remain in constant contact with Liz Saville Roberts MP, of Plaid Cymru, who has been extremely supportive and who together with Chris Stephens of the SNP began the EDM 1959 regarding Leyla Güven’s hunger strike which also mentioned my hunger strike.

Sinn Fein has also done a lot. They have ensured all their networks, publications and media channels to support our hunger strike.

MEP Martina Anderson went to Diyarbakir and was jostled by the Turkish army outside Diyarbakir Prison for Leyla Guven.

She then came back to the European Parliament and raised Leyla Güven’s action and demand as well as the hunger strikes in the European Parliament.

This, I believe, is what other political parties could also do to show their solidarity with Leyla Güven and the other hunger strikers.

Leyla Güven is an elected MP. Where are all the parliamentarians in solidarity with their parliamentary colleagues?

Hunger strike is a very strong action, putting your body at stake is a very strong decision. How do you fell, physically and psychologically?

I am on my 53rd day of this historic hunger strike. I am feeling strong, determined, in high morale and focused. Clearly I suffered from some physical symptoms such as loss of weights (I have already lost 11kg), my kidneys are painful, I have a sensitivity to light and smell.

I have regular headaches, but these physical symptoms are not affecting my strength and pride in taking part in this hunger strike that, I am sure of it, will break the isolation of our leader Abdullah Öcalan. I feel free. I am prepared to die for this cause.

How do you deal with health problems?

I drink one glass of fresh lemon drink with three spoonfuls of sugar and two spoonfuls of salt. Lemon is good to balance your blood pressure. I take one tablet of B1 vitamin and one tablet of B12 vitamin daily. I drink sugary water three times a day.

What is your call to the British people?

Raise your voices louder to protest against the UK government’s relationship with Turkey that turns a blind eye to the atrocities carried out against Kurds and sells weapons to Turkey that are used against my people, the Kurds.

I call on British people to put pressure on the UK government to stop arms sales to Turkey and support the Kurdish people’s struggle against the fascism of the Turkish state and DAESH in Syria.

And your call to the international community?

The CPT (Committee for the Prevention of Torture) has so far failed to take on its responsibility.

Some 300 Kurdish people worldwide have started an indefinite hunger strike.

Our only demand is that Kurdish fundamental human rights be recognised and the total isolation of Abdullah Öcalan be lifted immediately. This will favour the creation of an environment where true negotiations for peace can begin.