A group of 15 Kurdish people have gone on an indefinite hunger strike in Strasbourg. They are demanding an end to the isolation regime imposed on Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan.

Participants of the hunger strike include Kurdish politician Mustafa Sarıkaya, HDP Urfa former MP Dilek Öcalan, journalist Çiya İke, KCDK-E Co-chair Yüksel Koç.

A statement made on behalf of the activists addressed a special call to the Council of Europe, European Parliament and Committee for the Prevention of Torture; “A totally unlawful and inhumane practice is being implemented on Imralı Island. There can be no moral or political approach like isolating a prisoner, a leader of a folk from the world, his family and his people for three years. There is no such a practice anywhere else in the world, even in the most fascist governments.”

The hunger strikers called on the CPT to fulfill its mission and duties regarding the isolation of Öcalan.

Following the reading of the press release on the hunger strike, activists held a rally in front of the Council of Europe.

KONGRA-GEL Co-chair, Remzi Kartal, started his speech by saluting the resistance of DTK Co-Chair and HDP Hakkari deputy, Leyla Güven.

Kartal said that the demand to remove the isolation regime imposed on Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan is underlined by the resistance of the Kurdish people.

He said the hunger strike that started today is Strasbourg is an important part of the resistance, and stressed that the actions in all parts of Kurdistan and in Europe will continue until the demands are met.

We must be in every action

A message was sent to the hunger strikers by the French Communist Party and then journalist-author Ahmet Nesin spoke.

Nesin said that with this action the Kurdish people would force European institutions to work faster and added: “We must be in every action without losing hope. I did not lose my hope, because I started with an organization 40 years ago and 40 years later I continue the same struggle with a different organization.”

The attack on Öcalan is an attack on all socialists

Zeynep Diren, speaking on behalf of the European Federation of the Oppressed Migrants and the Socialist Women's Union, said that for 20 years, Öcalan has been under isolation and torture.

Remarking that the Kurdish people would not bow, Diren said: “The attack on the Kurdish People's Leader is an attack on the socialists. We salute the hunger strike. The resistance is growing, we are beside it. Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan.”

Mehmet Cengiz, from the Left Party, said: “Isolation is the game of warmongers. We will struggle until we reach justice.”

In the speech made on behalf of the European Kurdish Women's Movement (TJK-E), the resistance of Leyla Güven was saluted. A pledge was made to continue all actions until reaching a result.

The rally ended with the voice of Ozan Emekçi singing “Prisoners of freedom”.